Demethylation of N,N-dimethylbenzenamine and N,N,3-trimethylbenzenamine by whole cells of Aspergillus terreus

N,N-dimethylbenzenamine and N,N,3-trimethylbenzenamine were N-demethylated through enzymatic reactions mediated by whole cells of Aspergillus terreus strains SSP 1498, URM 3371 and URM 3571. The respective products, N-methylbenzenamine and N,3-dimethylbenzenamine, were obtained in high conversions under both neutral and basic conditions. The oxidative N-demethylation of tertiary aromatic amines by A. terreus was not enhanced by the presence of the oxidant tert-butylperoxide, although further demethylation of N,N-dimethylbenzenamine to aniline was observed. The strains of the investigated A. terreus were unable to perform the dealkylation of N,N-diethylbenzenamine.