Solid supported rhodium(0) nanoparticles: an efficient catalyst for chemo- and regio-selective transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes to anilines under microwave irradiation

A Solid-supported rhodium(0) (SS-Rh) catalyst has been developed and applied for the chemo- and regioselective reduction of nitroarenes functionalized with C-C multiple bonds and dinitroarenes to their corresponding amines respectively using hydrazine hydrate (N2H4 center dot H2O) as a reducing source under mild microwave irradiation (MWI) conditions. The present methodology also shows excellent compatibility with a broad range of structurally diverse reducible functional groups. The catalyst can be recovered by simple filtration and reused for 13 cycles with consistent activity hence reduces the cost of the catalyst assertively. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.