Intervention of oxygen in the horseradish peroxidase-catalysed oxidtion of aromatic tertiary amines with hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

The horseradish peroxidase-catalysed oxidation of aromatic tertiary amines with hydrogen peroxide leads to a secondary amine and an aldehyde, and with alkylmethylaminilines demethylation is preferred to dealkylation; the reaction depends on the concentration of oxygen in the solution, probably as a cosequence of the generation of peroxides by the reaction of oxygen with the radicals formed.