Reversible capture and release of aromatic amines by vicinal tricarbonyl compound

In this paper, we report reversible capture and release of aromatic amines by diphenylpropanetrione (DPPT). Addition of aromatic amines to the central carbonyl group occurred readily at ambient temperature to provide the aromatic amine adducts of DPPT (DPPT–aromatic amines), which has a hemiaminal structure. On the other hand, washing a solution of DPPT–aromatic amine with diluted hydrochloric acid (HCl) enabled successful recovery of DPPT to demonstrate the reversible nature of this system.

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