Reduction of Nitro Compounds

Nitro compounds can be readily reduced to primary amines by a variety of reducing agents.

For example,

• (a) hydrogen in presence of catalyst like nickel or platinum
• (b) a metal like tin or iron in presence of hydrochloric acid
• (c) lithium aluminium hydride

Reduction of nitroethane and nitrobenzene provides ethanamine and aniline, respectively.

Nitrobenzene on reduction in neutral medium, using zinc dust and ammonium chloride yields N-phenylhydroxylamine whereas its reduction in alkaline medium using zinc and sodium hydroxide yields azobenzene.