Alternative method for the reduction of aromatic nitro to amine using TMDS-iron catalyst system

The system 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS)/Fe(acac)(3) is reported here as a new method to obtain amines from aromatic nitro compounds. Amines are synthetized in a straightforward step and are isolated as hydrochloride salts with good to excellent yields. This system has shown a good selectivity toward aryl-chloride, aryl-bromide, ester, carboxylic acid, and cyano groups. The reduction of alkylnitro compounds was unfortunately not possible using this method, only a mixture of mono and dialkylated amine was obtained. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.