Visible-Light-Photocatalyzed Reductions of N-Heterocyclic Nitroaryls to Anilines Utilizing Ascorbic Acid Reductant

A photoreductive protocol utilizing [Ru­(bpy)3]2+ photocatalyst, blue light LEDs, and ascorbic acid (AscH2) has been developed to reduce nitro N-heteroaryls to the corresponding anilines. Based on experimental and computational results and previous studies, we propose that the reaction proceeds via proton-coupled electron transfer between AscH2, photocatalyst, and the nitro N-heteroaryl. The method offers a green catalytic procedure to reduce, e.g., 4-/8-nitroquinolines to the corresponding aminoquinolines, substructures present in important antimalarial drugs.