Selective reduction of aromatic nitro compounds with stannous chloride in non acidic and non aqueous medium

Abstract Aromatic nitro compounds are readily reduced by SnCl2, 2 H2O in alcohol or ethyl acetate or by anhydrous SnCl2 in alcohol where other reducible or acid sensitive groups such as aldehyde, ketone, ester, cyano, halogen and O-benzyl remain unaffected.