Photocatalytic reaction of arylamines/alcohols on TiO2 nano-particles

In this article, the photocatalytic reaction of aniline and 4-amino N,N-dimethyl aniline with methanol, ethanol and isopropanol on anatase TiO₂ nano-particles under UV (365-nm wavelength) irradiation was examined. The concentration of unreacted arylamines and products was measured by gas chromatography picks integration, and then the products were identified by mass spectroscopy analysis. By making a comparison within the rates of photocatalysis of each arylamine in different alcohols under various irradiation times, it was revealed that, in all cases, the sequence of photocatalysis rate was methanol > ethanol > isopropanol. In reactions where the concentrations of arylamine were lower than 10 mmol/l, imines were the main products and the alkylation of amines was not observed. In the higher concentration of arylamines, oxidation and dimerization was occurred.