Deuterated organic molecules are of interest for many applications ranging from mechanistic
investigations in basic organic and physical chemistry to the development of new pharmaceuticals.
Thus, methodologies for isotope-labelling reactions continue to be important. Here,
a convenient methodology for hydrogen/deuterium exchange reactions in electron-rich
arenes is reported using simple iron salts and deuterium oxide as isotope source.
Key words
catalysis - deuterium - heavy water - isotopic labelling - Lewis acid