Abstract

Nitroaromatic compounds are easily reduced by hydrogen transfer from 2-propanol in the presence of [Rh(NBD)L2]+ (NBD = norbornadiene and L = arylphosphines). The effects of the concentrations of base and rhodium complex, and the presence of substituents in the phosphine ligand on the rate and selectivity of the reaction are studied here. A high catalyst concentration favours both rate and selectivity, while a high base concentration increases the rate but decreases the selectivity of the reaction toward the production of aniline. © 1989.