Studies of reduction with the diborane-transition metal salt system.

Abstract

The reduction of a veriety of functional groups with the new diborane-nickelous chloride system was systematically investigated. This system reduced aromatic nitro compounds to the corresponding primary amines under mild conditions in good yields. However, ketone, aldehyde, carboxylic acid, ester, amide and olefin moieties were unaffected by this system. The nitro group in aromatic nitro compounds bearing a ketone, aldehyde, ester, amide or nitrile functionality was selectively reduced with this system to give the corresponding primary amines in good yields.