Reduction of Azo-, Azoxy-, and Nitrobenzenes by Dihydrolipoamide-Iron(II)

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00162a022

Dihydrolipoamide (DHLAm) was found to be an effective reagent for the reduction of nitrobenzene derivatives in the presence of a catalytic amount of ferrous ion.Azo- and azoxybenzenes were reduced to hydrazobenzene without the formation of aniline, and nitrobenzene, nitrosobenzene, and phenylhydroxylamine were also reduced to aniline in good yields under mild conditions.The reduction was presumed to proceed through the complex formation between DHLAm, ferrous ion, and substrates.