Light-emitting diode light–enabled denitrative etherification of 4-nitrobenzonitrile under catalyst-free conditions at room temperature

In this study, we have developed a catalyst-free procedure for denitrative etherification of electron-deficient nitroarenes. In this method, the reaction failed in the dark but was enabled by white light-emitting diode light (6 W) in the presence of NaOH/dimethylformamide at room temperature with short reaction times. Interestingly, the reaction in the dark is completed almost immediately once a small quantity of water is added to the reaction mixture. Ultraviolet irradiation (λ = 254 nm) was not effective for this reaction to proceed.