Efficient Route to Deuterated Aromatics by the Deamination of Anilines

One-step replacement of NH2 groups in ring-substituted anilines by deuterium is reported. Approaches comprising both solid-phase and solution phase syntheses can, be used on a large variety of substrates. The method uses diazotization in a mixture of water and either dichloromethane or chloroform, which serve as a source of hydrogen. This protocol can be used as a general method for fast and easy incorporation of deuterium into an aromatic system using deuterated chloroform.