The reaction of different chlorinated, brominated or iodinated materials, bearing or without a functional group, with a mixture of nickel(II) chloride dihydrate, an excess of lithium powder and a catalytic amount of 4,4'-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (DTBB) (5 mol%) in THF at room temperature, leads to the formation of the corresponding products resulting from a halogen/hydrogen exchange. The use of deuterium oxide instead of water in the nickel salt allows the corresponding deuteration. This methodology does not work with fluorinated materials.