M. Largeron, M. Fleury
Dec 1, 2000
Citations
0
Influential Citations
33
Citations
Journal
The Journal of organic chemistry
Abstract
The reactions of a new type of quinonoid system with benzylamine have been investigated in methanol in order to mimic the reactions occurring in the course of the enzymatic oxidation of amines by quinone cofactors. Under strictly anaerobic conditions, unstable quinonoid species 1(ox)()-4(ox)() have been selectively electrogenerated using anodic-controlled potential electrolysis. Thus, we have demonstrated that 3,4-quinone 1(ox)() is incapable of deaminating benzylamine, while 3,4-iminoquinone species 3(ox)() and 4(ox)() act as efficient catalysts for the autorecycling oxidation of benzylamine: the reaction efficiency reached 64 turnovers. Additional mechanistic investigations reveal that the oxidation of benzylamine by our quinonoid model cofactors proceeds unambiguously via a transamination mechanism, as suggested for many enzymatic systems.