Abstract
Activation procedures and hydrogen exchange reactions with six Group VIII transition metal catalysts (Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, Ir, Ni) are reported for three characteristic reaction systems: (i) deuterium oxide/benzene, (ii) deuterium oxide/naphthalene, and (iii) deuterium oxide/n-octane. Results of these exchange reactions indicate that both π-complex adsorption and the dissociative π-complex substitution mechanism previously established for platinum are applicable to other Group VIII transition metal catalysts. For general catalytic labelling with isotopic hydrogen, platinum was found to be the most efficient of the catalysts investigated.