Mild, selective and switchable transfer reduction of nitroarenes catalyzed by supported gold nanoparticles

A highly versatile and flexible gold-based catalytic system has been developed for the controlled and selective transfer reduction of nitroarene using 2-propanol as a convenient hydrogen source under mild conditions. Depending on the specific reaction conditions, multiple products including azoxyarenes, symmetric or asymmetric azoarenes and anilines can be obtained respectively via a controlled reduction of the nitro aromatics with good to excellent yields in the presence of a reusable mesostructured ceria-supported gold (Au/meso-CeO2) catalyst. The overall operational simplicity, high chemoselectivity, functional-group tolerance and reusability of the catalyst make this approach an attractive and reliable tool for organic and process chemists.