Substituent effects in heterogeneous catalysis: VIII. Reactions of 2-methyl- and 2-ethylcyclohexanone with deuterium catalyzed by platinum metals

2-Methyl and 2-ethyl derivatives of cyclohexanone were allowed to react with deuterium in tBuOD using platinum group metals as catalysts. The product alcohols and the remaining ketone were examined by mass spectrometry. Over Ru, Os, and Ir, the simple addition of two deuterium atoms to the carbonyl linkage was predominant, accompanied by little isotopic exchange. Over Pt, however, isotopic exchange was significant and over Rh and Pd quite extensive. The samples obtained over Rh and Pd were further analyzed by NMR spectroscopy to determine the loci of the incorporated deuterium atoms. Deuterium exchange over Pd was almost entirely confined to the C(2) and C(6) positions, while that over Rh was smeared beyond these positions. These results can be accounted for by assuming the intermediacy of π-absorbed π-oxaallylic species on Pd and of αβ-diadsorbed species on Rh.