Selective reduction of aromatic nitro compounds with nickel boride.

Abstract

Nickel boride (Ni2B) easily reduced aromatic nitro compounds at 40°C in 3N HCl or 15N NH4OH medium to afford the corresponding amines in good yields. However, olefin, aldehyde, ketone, nitrile, amide, carboxylic acid and ester functional groups were unaffected under these conditions.