Efficient Reduction of Nitroarenes to the Corresponding Anilines with Sulfur in Basic Media under Solvent-Free Conditions

Aromatic nitro compounds can be conveniently reduced to the corresponding primary amines in the presence of S 8 under solvent-free conditions in excellent yields. Alumina supported NaOH catalyses this transformation. Chemoselectivity was observed in the reduction of the nitro group in the presence of phenol, carboxylic acid, aldehyde, and benzyl halide groups.