Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing hydrogen by using formic acid as a feedstock, which provides a solution to problems to be solved for the production of hydrogen on an industrial scale, such as problems of production cost, storability and transportability, and also offers improved convenience. The method for producing hydrogen of the present invention is characterized by heating an ionic liquid containing formic acid. The ionic liquid is preferably an ionic liquid in which a counteranion is a formate anion (i.e., formic acid salt). Such an ionic liquid is, as a medium for the production of hydrogen from formic acid as a feedstock, excellent in terms of reaction selectivity (high-purity hydrogen is produced) and reaction velocity.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a deuterated compound, which requires neither many steps nor an expensive reagent, and is considerably economical and can be widely used for general-purposes because raw materials which can be used therein are not particularly limited. Specifically, a deuterated compound is obtained by a process comprising treating an organic compound (an aliphatic or alicyclic compound, an aromatic hydrocarbon or a polymer compound such as rubbers and proteins) in heavy water under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions not less than the subcritical temperature and the subcritical pressure.