H/D exchange of acetonitrile, mono-, di-, and triethylamine was carried out at 75 °C over zeolite supported
transition metal catalysts in a fixed-bed microflow reactor. In order to identify the location of the D atoms,
the product of this primary exchange was, subsequently, subjected to secondary exchange with liquid D2O,
which affects exclusively the N-bonded hydrons. 1H-NMR and mass spectrometry were used for product
analysis. The results reveal a rather dramatic difference in exchange behavior between ruthenium and the
group of metals including Pt, Pd, and Ni, while Rh displays an intermediate behavior. Pt, Pd, and Ni show
stepwise exchange starting with the N-bonded hydrons. In contrast, multiple exchange is found for Ru; this
exchange leads to preferential formation of d3 acetonitrile. With primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, the
hydrons bonded to the methylene C atom are most rapidly exchanged over Ru, followed by the hydrons in
methyl groups. Surprisingly, the N-bonded hydrons are only negligibly exchanged over Ru. For instance,
the d2 product of ethylamine has its two D atoms predominantly in the methylene, NOT the amine group.
With diethylamine, products up to d10 are abundant, but d11 is negligible. The results are rationalized on the
basis of the known high propensity of ruthenium to form CRu double bonds. In contrast, formation of
NRu bonds appears negligible under the conditions used.