Catalytic activation of hydrazine hydrate by gold nanoparticles: Chemoselective reduction of nitro compounds into amines

Supported gold nanoparticles (<1 mol%) catalyze for the first time the activation of NH2NH2 as a transfer hydrogenation agent. Aryl and alkyl nitro compounds are cleanly and selectively reduced into the corresponding amines in the presence of 4 equivalents of hydrazine. The reaction tolerates other potentially reducible functionalities such as carboxylate, carbonyl, cyano or halides which remain intact. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.