Formic Acid Reduction. XV. Reaction of N-Methyl and N-Formyl Derivatives of p-Phenylenediamine with Formates. N-Methylation of Formanilides

Abstract

Conversion of varied N-methyl and N-formyl derivatives of p-phenylenediamine to other kinds of analogous compounds with increase and decrease of N-methyl has been found to occur on heating at 175-180° with the high-boiling liquid formates composed of formic acid and trialkylamine. From investigation on this reaction the formate reagents have been introduced to affect N-methylation of formanilides in a course entirely different from the known demethylation by the same reagents.