Abstract
In the oxidation of benzylamine by molecular oxygen at 35°C and pH 9.2, 5-amino-6-hydroxyand 5, 6-diamino-2, 4 (1H, 3H)-pyrimidinediones were found to be efficient catalysts (Fig.1), while 5-amino-, 6-amino- and 5-acetylamino-6-amino-2, 4(1H, 3H)-pyrimidinediones, pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxamine phosphate did not catalyze the oxidation. The yield of the oxidation product, identified as N-benzylidenebenzylamine, was almost quantitative (Table 1)on the basis of the quantity of oxygen absorbed. The absorption spectra of the catalyst (Fig.2) and the substrate specificity were discussed in relation to the amine oxidases.
