Deuteration of indole and N-methylindole by Raney nickel catalysis

Indole and N-methylindole have been partially or fully deuterated by Raney nickel catalyzed H-1-H-2 exchange in a series of deuterated solvents. Perde uterated indoles have been obtained in water and methanol while compounds t hat are preferentially deuterated at specific sites were obtained in chloro form, acetone, acetonitrile, ethanol, and isopropanol. The partially deuter ated compounds are an important research tool for solid-state NMR studies o n proteins.