Hydrogenation of nitroarenes catalyzed by a dipalladium complex

A dipalladium complex Pd₂( L )Cl₂](PF₆)₂ ( 2 ), via the substitution of (PhCN)₂PdCl₂ with 5‐phenyl‐2,8‐bis(6′‐bipyridinyl)‐1,9,10‐anthyridine ( L ) followed by the anion exchange, was found to be a good pre‐catalyst for the reduction of nitroarenes to yield the corresponding anilines under atmospheric pressure of hydrogen in methanol. This method provides a straightforward access to a diverse array of functionalized anilines, exhibiting a possible application in synthetic chemistry. The catalytic activity of this complex is enhanced by the di‐metallic system via the synergistic effect.