Characteristics of reactions dp --> ppppi-, np --> pppi-, dp --> dppipi-, np --> dpi+pi-, dp --> dnpi+ at 1.7 GeV/c per nucleon have been s
tudied. By comparison of dp and np interactions the different mechanis
ms in deuteron reactions were separated and it was shown that the quas
i free nucleon-proton process is dominant. More unambiguous selection
of spectators was demonstrated simultaneously. Their momenta distribut
ions were well described by the known deuteron wave functions up to 0.
4 GeV/c. It was shown that exotic effects at high momenta contribute i
n less than 3% of events.