Chemoselective reductive coupling of nitroarenes with magnesium in methanol via single electron transfer

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.69.407

A chemoselective reductive coupling of nitroarenes using magnesium in methanol has been reported at ambient temperature. While the cyano, formyl, methoxycarbonyl, methyl, methoxy, phenyl, amino, and chloro groups are unaffected, iodo and bromo groups undergo dehalogenation but in a slower reaction than the coupling of nitro group. The coupling is believed to be proceeding via SET from Mg to nitroarenes.