Photocatalytic N-alkylation of benzylamine in microreactors

A photocatalytic process of N-alkylation of benzylamine in alcohol media was successfully observed by using microreactors with immobilized Pt-free TiO2 as well as Pt-loaded TiO2, while it has been reported that the N-alkylation did not occur by the irradiation of Pt-free TiO2 in conventional batch reactors. The use of continuous-flow microreactor inhibited the formation of N,N-dialkylation products. These results suggest the possibilities of a catalytic microreaction system on organic photoreactions. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.