Hydrogen Isotope Exchange in Aromatic Compounds in the Presence of Raney Nickel Alloy

Abstract

Aromatics undergo rapid proton-deuterium or -tritium exchange in aqueous solutions containing Raney nickel alloy. The specificity of exchange in benzoic acid, anthranilic acid, pyridine and aniline is investigated by degradation and mass and N.M.R. spectrometry. Positions meta and para to carboxylate are most readily exchanged.