Reduction reactions aromatic aniline methylation

A different mode of reaction, however, is observed in photoreductions of nitroaromatics by aromatic tertiary amines. Irradiation of benzene solutions of N-methylated anilines and either m-chloronitrobenzene or 1-nitronaphthalene results in oxidative demethylation of the amines accompanied with reduction of the nitro compound to the corresponding arylamine 49). The authors suggest that hydrogen abstraction from the methyl group takes place as the primary chemical event. 

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