Reduction of aromatic nitriles into aldehydes using calcium hypophosphite and a nickel precursor†
Abstract
Herein we report the reduction of aromatic nitriles into aldehydes with calcium hypophosphite in the presence of base and nickel(II) complex in a water/ethanol mixture. This catalytic system reduced efficiently a series of aromatic nitriles bearing different functional groups such as –Cl, –CF3, –Br, –CH3, –OCH3, –COOCH2CH3, –OH and –CHO. The corresponding aldehydes were isolated in moderate to excellent yields (30–94%).
- This article is part of the themed collection: Catalysis & biocatalysis in OBC