Catalytic deuterium exchange reactions with organics. XL. Pyridine, the quinolines, azines, and aniline on unsupported Group VIII transition metals

Pyridine, the quinolines, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, s-triazine, and aniline have been exchanged with heavy water on the following Group VIII transition metals: Fe, Co, Ni, 0s. Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, and Pt. Three types of catalyst activation have been used, including self-activation, hydrogen and sodium borohydride reduction of the inorganlo salts. Platinum is the most useful catalyst for general exchange whereas cobalt possesses valuable specificity for selective a exchange in a large number of the heterocyclic compounds. A kinetic study of the deuteration of pyridine on platinum has been performed. The exchange results have been rationalized in terms of charge-transfer adsorbed intermediates. E.s.r. has been used to support this conclusion for the interaction between pyridine and potassium chloropalladite. p-Complex mechanisms have been proposed to explain the observed deuteration behaviour.