Catalytic selective deuteration of halo(hetero)arenes

Deuterium labeled aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds are synthesized in good to excellent yields with >98% deuterium purity via palladium catalyzed deuterodehalogenation reaction using commercially available and inexpensive reagents. Selective deuteration of bromoaniline is also demonstrated without H/D exchange in an amino N-H group. A library of deuterated compounds was synthesized and the mechanism of D-incorporation explored.