The ozonolytic deconstruction of aromatics remains a challenge in organic chemistry. Ozone preferentially reacts with alkenes over arenes, meaning that once the initial aromatic cleavage occurs, the d...

Abstract. Friedel–Crafts alkylation is a cornerstone transformation for arene functionalization; however, strongly electron-deficient nitroarenes fail to u

Carbanions of phenylacetonitriles, benzyl sulfones, and dialkyl benzylphosphonates add nitroarenes at the ortho-position to the nitro group to form $$\sigma ^\mathrm{H}$$ σ H -adducts that, upon treat...

Cheap reagent used in batteries selectively reduces nitroaromatics

Due to the inert CAr–NO2 bond, direct denitrative substitution reactions with unactivated nitroarenes are challenging. Now, using visible-light irradiation, a strategy has been developed to enable dir...

Nitrosoarenes are versatile synthons, but their selective synthesis from abundant feedstocks remains challenging because conventional methods often require harsh conditions that can result in over-reduction and over-oxidation. Here, we report a photomediated deoxygenation of nitroarenes to nitrosoarenes using electron-poor phosphines as oxygen atom acceptors. Careful selection of the oxygen atom acceptor enables selective arrest at the nitroso oxidation state, affording nitrosoarenes directly from nitroarenes in good yields under mild conditions.

Direct C–N bond formation from nitroarenes offers an appealing alternative to conventional routes that rely on aniline intermediates. Here, the authors report a paired electrolysis strategy that enables highly selective para-C–H amination of phenols with nitroarenes, delivering unprotected p-hydroxy diphenylamines in a single step without transition-metal catalysts or external reductants.

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41929-025-01453-zPhotoexcited nitroarenes are traditionally consumed as reactive intermediates in transformations. Now, it is shown that simple and cheap nitroarenes can be used as energy transfer photocatalysts in reactions such as E-to-Z alkene isomerization and [2 + 2] intramolecular cycloadditions.

The reduction of nitroarenes to anilines is a key transformation with real-life context, central to the preparation of many important fine chemicals. The importance of this transformation has led to i...

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 12 June 2025; doi:10.1038/s42004-025-01464-8Amide bond formation is essential in both organic and medicinal chemistry; however, most existing methods present poor ecological efficiency. Here, the authors present a scalable and sustainable methodology for synthesizing N-substituted amides from nitroarenes, nitroalkenes, nitroalkyls, and acyl saccharin in aqueous media, demonstrating applicability in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, especially an effective multigram-scale synthesis of paracetamol, and solvent recycling.

Herein we describe the oxidation of alkenes to carbonyls and acetonides via the interplay of photoexcited nitroarenes and Lewis acid catalysis. A wide range of alkenes were oxidized to aldehyde and ke...

A method to assemble (hetero)aryl sulfonamides via the reductive coupling of aryl sulfinates and nitroarenes is reported. Various reducing conditions with sodium bisulfite and with or without tin(II) ...

Modular Synthesis for Acridine Derivatives: Combining photo-excitation of o-alkyl nitroarenes with copper-mediated cascade annulation to rapidly construct diverse acridines, which can be easily conver...

#LCSOJournalClub 178.1 (Highlighted in picture): A one-pot enantioselective Heck Matsuda arylation of alkenes starting directly from anilines or nitroarenes…

Liu, W. et al. Single-atom dispersed Co–N–C catalyst: structure identification and performance for hydrogenative coupling of nitroarenes. Chem. Sci. 7, 5758–5764 (2016). Gholami, R., Alyani, M. & Smith, K. Deactivation of Pd catalysts by water during low temperature methane oxidation...