Photoredox catalyzed visible light-induced reduction of nitroarenes into anilines

Abstract

A photochemical methodology was developed for the reduction of nitroarenes, utilizing γ-terpinene as the reductant and 9-HTX⁻ as the photocatalyst. This study demonstrated another way to generate the 9-HTX⁻ species from TX and γ-terpinene rather than TX and TfOH. Under the catalysis of 9-HTX⁻*, an in situ formed long-lived and super-reducing species, various nitroarenes were successfully converted into the corresponding anilines via the key amino radical intermediates. This reaction offers a mild and effective approach for synthesizing anilines with broad applicability.