Bis(salicylaldehyde)ethylenedi-iminecobalt(II)-catalysed oxidation of aromatic amines with oxygen

Abstract

N-n-Butylanilines undergo N-dealkylation to give a primary amine and butyraldehyde by oxidation with oxygen in the presence of bis(salicylaldehyde)ethylenedi-iminecobalt(II)(Co^IIsalen) as catalyst. High conversions are obtained with high catalyst concentrations and low [substrate]/[catalyst] ratios (r). Inspection of the effect of catalyst and substrate concentrations on initial reaction rates (v_in) shows poor sensitivity to the electronic effect of the nuclear substituent. Some anilines give azo derivatives at a lower rate in the same conditions.