Hydrogen-deuterium (H/D) exchange reaction of acebutolol hydrochloride in D₂O and CD₃OD solution.

Abstract

H/D exchange reactions can be observed by NMR spectroscopy of acebutolol (ACE). The results obtained showed deuterium incorporation at α-posi t ion of the carbonyl group of acebutolol, when using deuterium oxide or deuterated methanol as deuterium source and solvent. The spontaneous deuteration is proceeded by the following pathway CH₃→CH₂D→CHD→CD₃, through a keto-enol tautomerization reaction. Furthermore, LC-MS / QTOF analyses have confirmed the proposed H/D exchange. In order to reduce the time of total deuteration observed at the acetyl group alkaline catalysts were employed.