Reaction Mechanism
The reaction mechanism displayed below demonstrates step by step how hexamine donates a methine group to an aromatic substrate via a series of equilibria reactions, with iminium ion intermediates. Initially, addition to the aromatic ring results in an intermediate at the oxidation state of a benzylamine. An intramolecular redox reaction then ensues, raising the benzylic carbon to the oxidation state of an aldehyde. The oxygen atom is kindly provided by water on acid hydrolysis in the final step.
Read more about this topic: Duff Reaction
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