The iron(II)/reductant (DH2)-induced activation of dioxygen for the demethylation of N-methylanilines: Reaction mimic for the cytochrome P- 450/reductase system

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0968-0896(96)00071-5

Several iron(II) complexes [Fe(II)L(x); Fe(II)(DPAH)₂ (DPAH₂ = 2,6- dicarboxyl pyridine), Fe(II)(PA)₂ (PAH = picolinic acid) and Fe(II)(bpy)₂/²⁺ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine)] in combination with a reductant [DH₂; PhNHNHPh (mimic of dihydroflavin)] catalytically activate O₂ (1 atm) for the demethylation of N-methylanilines [PhN(CH₃)₂, PhNH(CH₃)]. This chemistry, which appears to involve a Fenton-like intermediate [L(x)Fe(IV)OOH(DH) (1c)], mimics that of the cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase/reductase proteins.