Efficient reductions of various nitroarenes with scrap automobile catalyst and NaBH4

The effect of scrap automobile catalyst (SAC), a waste material, was investigated as a catalyst for the reduction of nitroarenes to the corresponding amines with sodium borohydride in aqueous ethanol at 5-25 degrees C. Along with the observed high conversions, the SAC and NaBH4 combination also exhibits a selectively catalyzed reduction in compounds containing other reducible functionalities, such as - CN, - Br, - Cl and - I. Recycling automobile wastes into a catalyst for organic reactions will offer both environmental protection and economic advantages. As a result, an effective, easy to use, low-priced and reliable method has been developed. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.