Uncatalyzed microwave deuterium exchange labeling of bleomycin A2

Bleomycin sulfate in D2O was deuterated using microwave irradiation under catalyst free conditions. Following the removal of labile deuterium and purification, bleomycin A2 with mass M + 1 to M + 7 was obtained. Successful selective uncatalyzed microwave deuterium exchange reactions on examples from the following classes of heterocycles are also described: imidazole, thiazole, indole, purine, and quinazoline. The described method was used as a test for non-labile active protons. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.