NaI/PPh3-Mediated Photochemical Reduction and Amination of Nitroarenes

A mild transition-metal- and photosensitizer-free photoredox system based on the combination of NaI and PPh3 was found to enable highly selective reduction of nitroarenes. This protocol tolerates a broad range of reducible functional groups such as halogen (Cl, Br, and even I), aldehyde, ketone, carboxyl, and cyano. Moreover, the photoredox catalysis with NaI and stoichiometric PPh3 provides also an alternative entry to Cadogan-type reductive amination when o-nitrobiarenes were used.