Synthesis of N,N,N’,N’-tetraalkylbenzidines through oxidative coupling of N,N-dialkylarylamines induced by SbCl5

The oxidative coupling to 4,4’-N,N,N’,N’-tetraalkylbenzidines is the main reaction observed during a study on the reactivity of N,N-dialkylanilines with SbCl5. A possible reaction mechanism is presented and discussed in comparison with the N,N-dialkylanilines oxidative coupling achieved with other Lewis acids