Eugenol demethylation - What happends

[eXcidium]

Hey

Does anyone have a clue in regartd to what happends (chemically) to the AlI₃ and the eugenol in the following procedure?

From Rhodium's :

Abstract: Reflux aluminium powder with iodine in benzene or cyclohexane for 90 min to produce AlI3. Add equimolar amounts of vanillin, 0.25 eqv PTC (tetrabutylammonium iodide, chloride may also work), reflux for 20 min, and isolate the protocatechualdehyde (88%)


And, Can the AlI₃ / Cyclohexane be used another time?

[Rhodium]

AlI₃ + Eugenol -> 4-Allylcatechol + MeI + Al³⁺

[eXcidium]

Thanks, Master R.

So there is no way of getting the AlI<sub>3 back...
I just had a ideia that would be possible somehow

Anyway,, this is good info already, thanks</sub>