Uncatalyzed Reductive Fission of Azoarenes to Aminoarene(s) by Hydrazine Hydrate

Abstract

Various azoarenes with hydrazine hydrate in refluxing ethanol undergo reductive fission to give easily isolable aminoarene(s) without use of any specialized catalyst. The reaction is fast and cost effective, and yields are excellent (85–95%). Substituents such as ‒OH, ‒OCH₃, ‒COOH, ‒Cl, and ‒Br are unaffected. The method affords an elegant route to the preparation of aminoarenes.

Keywords:

• Aminoarenes
• azoarenes
• hydrazine hydrate
• reductive fission

Acknowledgment

H. M. Nanjundaswamy thanks the Joint Director and the Chemical Examiner of the Public Health Institute, Bangalore, India, for encouragement.