Promoting effect of ethanol on the synthesis of N-(2-methylphenyl) hydroxylamine from o-nitrotoluene in Zn/H2O/CO2 system

The promoting effect of ethanol on the synthesis of N-(2-methylphenyl)hydroxylamine from o-nitrotoluene in Zn/H2O/CO2 system was observed. By adding appropriate amount of ethanol, the selectivity of N-(2-methylphenyl)hydroxylamine increased from 71% to 90% when the reduction was carried out at 25 °C under normal pressure of CO2.