Photo and mechanochemically induced reduction of nitroarenes using ammonia borane

Abstract

This study presents an advanced approach for the reduction of nitroarenes to anilines, employing cucurbit[7]uril as a catalyst and ammonia borane as a hydrogen source, signifying noteworthy progression in photochemical supramolecular catalysis. Expanding the capability of ammonia borane, a mechanochemical reduction approach for the same reaction has also been established. Additionally, the developed mechanochemical protocol was successfully extended for similar types of synthetic scenarios, including (a) reductive amidation of nitro compounds with carboxylic acids and (b) amidation of carboxylic acids. The products of these reactions i.e., anilines and amides, are indispensable precursors in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and other chemically significant entities.