Nitro Substrates in Reductive Electrosynthesis: A Review

Abstract

The electrochemical reduction of nitro substrates for synthesizing organic target compounds is extremely attractive since reagent waste is avoided. The desired degree of reduction of the nitrogen group can be robustly tuned by adjusting the pH in the electrolyte. The innovative combination of in situ formation of reactive nitrogen intermediates, from widely available starting materials, with subsequent condensation or substitution reactions enables an alternative and greener approach to nitrogen-containing products. In addition, the robust and scalable synthesis of Nhydroxyl and some N-oxy derivatives is obtained, which are not conventionally accessible. This electro-organic synthesis has experienced a renaissance in the past decade and is of particular interest for scientists dealing with the synthesis of biologically active compounds and their potential metabolites.