Facile Reduction of Nitroarenes into Anilines and Nitroalkanes into Hydroxylamines <i>via</i> the Rapid Activation of Ammonia⋅ Borane Complex by Supported Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

Abstract Gold nanoparticles supported on titania catalyse, even at a ppm loading level, the quantitative reduction of nitroarenes into anilines and nitroalkanes into alkylhydroxylamines by the ammonia⋅ borane complex. No dehalohalogenation was seen in the case of chloro‐ or bromonitroarenes, while ester, cyano, or carboxylic acid functionalities also remain intact. The nitroarene to aniline reduction pathway does not require nitrosoarenes as intermediate products.