A DFT study of reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline with SnCl2 and hydrochloric acid

A fundamental reduction reaction, nitrobenzene to aniline in SnCl₂ and hydrochloric acid, was investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. First, the change of SnCl₂ → SnCl₄^2? → Cl₄SnH^? was discussed, and the reaction path of SnCl₄^2? + H₃O⁺ → Cl₄SnH^? + H₂O was obtained. Starting from nitrobenzene, six elementary processes were found so as to arrive at the protonated aniline. The hydride ion from Cl₄SnH^? is connected always to the cationic nitrogen, and the proton is always to oxygens. An intermediate Ph?N⁺H₂OH was obtained, which is isomerized to the para O?H adduct protonated imine via the Bamberger rearrangement. This species may undergo the H^? acceptance at the sp² N⁺H₂ center. In the nitrobenzene reduction, the proton enhances the electrophilicity of the nitrogen center, which makes the hydride shift ready. N?H bonds are formed, and N?O bonds are cleaved both by the proton attach and subsequent H₂O elimination and by the formal 1,5] OH shift. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.