Mild and Simple Biomimetic Conversion of Amines to Carbonyl Compounds

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00380a019

4-Formyl-1-methylpyridinium benzenesulfonate is a convenient reagent for the chemical modification of primary amines to aldehydes and ketones.This method mimics the biological process for transamination reactions with pyridoxal (vitamin b₆).As in that process, it involves imine formation, prototropic rearrangement, and hydrolysis.The conditions are extremely mild and are compatible with a large variety of sensitive functional groups.This process provides a simple and a efficient alternative to the somewhat harsher procedures generally employed for such transformations.