Homogenous nickel-catalyzed chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of functionalized nitroarenes with ammonia-borane.

Homogeneous Ni-catalyzed highly selective transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes was successfully established using NH 3 BH 3  as a hydrogen source. A broad range of functional groups were selectively reduced to provide the corresponding anilines in good to high yields. Further, pharmaceutically active compounds can be prepared that would otherwise be challenging to access.