Cobalt(II)bis[3-(salicylideneamino) propyl] methylamine, (CoSMDPT) catalysed the oxidation of primary amines with dioxygen. The oxidation of benzylamine, 4-methyl-benzylamine and 4-methoxybenzylamine gave aldehyde intermediates which reacted with the starting amines to yield the corresponding Schiff bases as the final products. The oxidation of 1-phenylethylamine gave 2,4,6-triphenyl-3-aza-3,5-heptadiene by disproportionation of the intermediate Schiff base, 2,4-diphenyl-3-aza-3-heptene.
