HOFMANN-MARTIUS REARRANGEMENT REACTIONS CATALYSED BY ZEOLITE

N-Methylaniline was reacted over HZSM-5, H-Theta-1 and HY zeolites and was found to rearrange to give the toluidines, aniline and N,N-dimethylaniline. Percentage conversion to these products was found to be highest over HY zeolite with a higher selectivity to p-toluidine, whereas over HZSM-5 and H-Theta-1 selectivity was to N,N-dimethylaniline. The conversion to these products is in line with Hofmann-Martius and the Reilly-Hickin bottom rearrangement reactions. However the selectivity to N,N-dimethylaniline as observed over HZSM-5 and H-Theta-1 (medium pore zeolites) is new