Selective Reduction of Nitroarenes with Silanes Catalyzed by Nickel N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes (original) (raw)

An efficient catalytic system for the reduction of nitroarenes to amines was developed using a well-defined nickel-NHC complex as catalyst and phenylsilane as reducing agent. The excellent activity of the catalyst provides access to anilines containing a wide array of reactive functionalities at 20 °C, and without using any base or additive. Notably, the catalytic system allows the reduction of 5,10,15,20-tetra-(nitrophenyl)porphyrin (TNPP) and Cu(II) -nitroporphyrin to the corresponding aminoporphyrins.