Direct synthesis of haloaromatics from nitroarenes via a sequential one-pot Mo-catalyzed reduction/Sandmeyer reaction

Org Biomol Chem. 2023 Oct 4;21(38):7791-7798. doi: 10.1039/d3ob01187a.

Abstract

Herein, we report the direct synthesis of a wide variety of functionalized aromatic bromides, chlorides, iodides, and fluorides from nitroarenes in a sequential one-pot operation. This protocol is based on an air- and moisture-tolerant dioxomolybdenum-catalyzed reduction of nitroaromatics, employing pinacol as a reducing agent, which enables subsequent diazotization and halogenation steps. This methodology represents a step-economical, practical, and alternative procedure for synthesizing haloaromatics directly from nitroaromatics.