Abstract
The anodic oxidations of ephedrine and several realted compounds have been studied in aqueous buffer solutions at a glassy-carbon electrode. The oxidation potentials of these alkanol amines are less positive than those of simple alkyl amines without β-hydroxy group. On controlled potential electrolysis, these compounds consume about two electrons per molecule, and substantially give 1-hydroxy-1-phenyl-2-propanone and the counterpart alkylamines. The relative amount of dealkylation from the amino-nitrogen is quite different from that predicted on the basis of the number of α-protons.
