Influence of [ 2 H]‐labelled acetic acid as solvent in the synthesis of [ 2 H]‐labelled perhexiline

Preparation of deuterium‐labelled perhexiline from an unsaturated analogue was performed via reduction with deuterium gas and PtO 2 in acetic acid. Low incorporation was observed when using acetic acid as solvent (most abundant mass peak was M   + D0 ), but when changing the solvent to deuterium‐labelled acetic acid, e.g. acetic acid‐OD or acetic acid‐ d 4 , a higher incorporation was observed (most abundant mass peak was M   + D8 ). Using hydrogen gas instead of deuterium gas with deuterium‐labelled acetic acid, high levels of deuterium incorporation were observed (most abundant mass peak was M   + D5 ). An attempt to reduce a precursor with a fully deuterated pyridine to obtain perhexiline with a higher content of deuterium failed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.