Catalytic reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline with aqueous methyl formate

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(93)80435-E

Nitrobenzene is selectively reduced to aniline by aqueous methyl formate in the presence of a catalytic system comprising , Pd(OAc)2, tricyclohexylphosphine, and 1,10-phenathroline.The process was found to be sequential involving deoxygenation of nitrobenzene to azoxy- and azo-benzene, hydrogenation to aniline, formamidation, and eventually hydrolysis of formanilide to aniline.