High yield and selective electrocatalytic reduction of nitroarenes to anilines using redox mediators

Anilines are major commodity chemicals used extensively in the production of pharmaceuticals, dyes, and polymers. However, typical methods for synthesizing anilines suffer from poor environmental sustainability. Here, we report an electrocatalytic route that works aqueous solution at room temperature pressure, where electrons protons required to reduce nitrobenzene precursors obtained water. Excellent selectivities a range anilines, including species with ortho-iodides very challenging obtain by other methods. Our approach relies on use polyoxometalate redox mediator shuts off direct electro-reduction electrode surface thus prevents unproductive side reactions. Given scale current impact global aniline production, this electrochemical holds promise development more sustainable processes these vital chemical feedstocks. • polymers Current not environmentally A redox-mediated is reported Reaction conditions mild substituted high usually produced via routes questionable Stergiou Symes water holding