Facile reduction of aromatic nitro/azido functionality on solid support employing Al/NiCl2•6H2O and Al/NH4Cl:: synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepines

An efficient and mild method for the reduction of aromatic nitro and azido groups on solid support using Al/NiCl2-6H(2)O and Al/NH4Cl is described. This solid phase reduction technique has been applied towards the synthesis of DNA binding pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine antitumour antibiotics. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.