A comparative study and development of an improved method for the reduction of nitroarenes into arylamines by Al/NH4X (X = Cl, Br, I) in methanol under ultrasonic conditions

Nitroarenes were shown by us earlier to undergo reduction when treated with Al/NH4Cl in methanol under sonic conditions to give anilines in high yields [D. Nagaraja, M.A. Pasha, Tetrahedron Lett. 40 (1999) 7855]. Now, a comparative study has been carried out and an efficient and improved procedure for this reduction by using Al/NH4X (X = Cl, Br, I) is reported. A plausible mechanism of the reaction is envisaged.