Ethylene dehydrogenates Ir(H)(2)FL(2) (L = P-t-Bu(2)Ph) to give the metalated species 1 and 2. These metalated species catalyze the exchange of deuterium from C6D6 to ethylene, and to (t)Bu and ortho phenyl sites of coordinated L. This exchange is proposed to benefit from pi-donation from F to Ir.