Hydrogenative cleavage of azo compounds catalyzed by commercial zinc dust using ammonium acetate

192-195Addition of ammonium acetate followed by commercial zinc dust to the solution of azo compounds in methanol appears to offer a general and convenient means for reducing both symmetrical and unsymmetrical azo compounds to the corresponding amine/s at ambient temperature. Many other reducible and hydrogenolysable groups like –OCH3, -OH, -COOH, -CH3 –COCH3 and halogens are tolerated. The reduction is fast, clean, high yielding and inexpensive compared to earlier methods