Harnessing the Oxygen Vacancies in Metal Oxides for Nitroreduction

Abstract

AbstractOxygen vacancies are one of the prominent types of defects in metal oxides. In addition to their role in modifying the electronic properties in solids, these sites have been shown to activate chemical bonds. As a result, the use of defect‐rich metal oxides in the organic transformations is promising. The article gives an overview of various chemical processes that are in use for the chemical reduction of aromatic nitro compounds to amines. Recently, application of oxygen vacancies in transition metal oxide for the selective reduction of aromatic nitro compounds to the corresponding amines has emerged as a new method of synthesis of amines. Oxygen vacancies in reducible oxide such as CuO have been shown to decompose hydrazine hydrate to H2 and in situ cause the reduction of nitro arenes to corresponding amines. This concept article discusses the literature pertaining to the synthesis of nitro reduction reaction, various strategies employed thus far and the place the defect‐mediated synthesis holds. The article also discusses the perspectives and challenges that remain to be addressed to gain more insights into the mechanistic understanding of the role of oxygen vacancies in nitro reduction and beyond.