A Facile and Efficient Method for Continuous Reduction of Nitroaromatic Compounds Through the Cyclic Transformation Between Fe(II)-complexes and Nano Zero-valent Iron

Fe(II)-complexes were successfully utilized as high-efficient and green catalysts for converting nitroaromatics to the corresponding anilines at room temperature. The Fe(II)-complexes were in situ reduced into homogeneous distribution of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) with NaBH4, and could be regenerated by the oxidation of nitroaromatic compounds under mild conditions. The Fe(II)-complexes catalysts are efficient and recyclable, and the reaction can be performed in an environment- friendly process with short reaction times and high yields. On the basis of above merits, these Fe(II)-complexes/NaBH4 catalytic systems show to be promising for the efficient synthesis of aromatic amines or treatment of industrial effluents containing nitroaromatic compounds at industrial levels.