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

Several iron(II) complexes [FeIILx; FeII(DPAH)2 (DPAH2 = 2,6-dicarboxyl pyridine), FeII(PA)2 (PAH = picolinic acid) and FeII(bpy)22+ (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 [LxFeIVOOH(DH) (1c)], mimics that of the cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase/reductase proteins.