Graphene oxide (GO) or reduced graphene oxide (rGO): efficient catalysts for one-pot metal-free synthesis of quinoxalines from 2-nitroaniline

Abstract

A straightforward one-pot preparation of library of quinoxalines from 2-nitroanilines under entirely metal-free conditions is described. Initial reduction of nitroaniline with hydrazine hydrate is efficiently catalyzed by graphene oxide (GO) or reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and further one-pot tandem reactions with 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds or with α-hydroxy ketones afford quinoxalines in excellent yields. The catalyst is recovered, characterized, and found to be recyclable for consecutive four runs examined with appreciable conversions.