H/D-exchange reactions with hydride-activated catalysts

A safe, user friendly and efficient method to provide high deuterium incorporation into a variety of organic substrates was developed. Systematic screening of catalysts and activators revealed that the activation of the Pd- or Rh-catalyst by NaBD 4 is essential for the H/D exchange. The feasibility has been demonstrated by the successful application of this method to bi- and tricyclic aromatic compounds as well as chiral natural products like dextrorphan or drugs like formoterol.