ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Reduction of aromatic nitro compounds to amines using zinc and aqueous chelating ethers: Mild and efficient method for zinc activation

Pookot Sunil Kumar and Kuriya M. Lokanatha Rai

FMC (I) R&D Centre, Society for Innovation and Development, Indian Institute of Science Campus, 560012 Bangalore, India

E-mail: sunilkumarpookot@gmail.com

Abstract: A mild, environmentally friendly method for reduction of aromatic nitro group to amine is reported, using zinc powder in aqueous solutions of chelating ethers. The donor ether acts as a ligand and also serves as a co-solvent. Water is the proton source. This procedure is also a new method for the activation of zinc for electron transfer reduction of aromatic nitro compounds. The reduction is accomplished in a neutral medium and other reducing groups remained unaffected. The ethers used are dioxolane, 1,4-dioxane, ethoxymethoxyethane, dimethoxymethane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, and diglyme.

Keywords: reduction – dioxolane – chelating ether – aqueous medium – zinc

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-012-0195-6

Chemical Papers 66 (8) 772–778 (2012)