Abstract: Substituted dibenylimine compounds were synthesized and the effects of substituting groups on the cleavage mode of debenzylation under different conditions were also studied. The results indicate that the products of the cleavage under hydrogenation via Pd/C were p-methoxybenzenzylamine and alkanes, while naphthamines were obtained under ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) oxidation.

Key words: dibenzylimine compound, palladium/C, ceric ammonium nitrate, selective debenzylation