The oxidative demethylation of tertiary amines by oxo(phosphine)ruthenium(IV) complexes
Abstract
The oxidation of para-substituted N,N-dimethylanilines by oxo(phosphine)ruthenium (IV) complexes is shown to display cytochrome P-450-like reactivity, where tertiary amines are oxidatively dealkylated, yielding the corresponding N-methylaniline and formaldehyde.