Cobalt Schiff Base Complex Catalyzed Dehydrogenation of Amines with <i>t</i>-Butyl Hydroperoxide

Abstract

Abstract Cobalt Schiff base complex catalyzed oxidation of secondary aromatic amines with t-butyl hydroperoxide resulted selectively in dehydrogenation to give the corresponding imines. Proposed mechanism involves electron transfer from the nitrogen atom in the substrate to t-butyloxyl or t-butylperoxyl radical produced in situ from a t-butylperoxocobalt(III) complex intermediate.