Aromatic H/D Exchange Reaction Catalyzed by Groups 5 and 6 Metal Chlorides

Groups 5 and 6 metal chlorides such as MoCl 5 , WCl 6 , NbCl 5 and TaCl 5 were found to be simple and very efficient catalysts for the aromatic H/D exchange reactions. Compared with other metal chlorides such as ZnCl 2 , SnCl 4 and TiCl 4 , groups 5 and 6 metal chlorides showed better catalytic activity in the H/D exchange reaction of naphthalene with C 6 D 6 . Deuteration of anthracene using MoCl 5 as a catalyst proceeded within 24 h at room temperature. Other aromatic compounds such as toluene, diphenylmethane and 1,1,2‐triphenylethane were also deuterated smoothly in C 6 D 6 within 24 h at room temperature.