A new reagent for selective reduction of nitro group

1315-1318The nitro group in aromatic nitro compounds containing reducible substituents such as methyl, carboxylic acids and phenols, and halogens are selectively and rapidly reduced at room temperature to the corresponding amines in good yield by employing hydrazine glyoxylate in the presence of zinc powder or magnesium powder. It has been observed that hydrazine glyoxylate is more effective than hydrazine, glyoxylic acid, hydrazinium monoformate or ammonium monoformate and reduction of the nitro group occurs without hydrogenolysis in the presence of low-cost magnesium compared to expensive metals like palladium, platinum, ruthenium, etc. The products have been characterized by comparison of their TLC, infrared spectra and melting point