COBALT-CATALYZED REDUCTION OF AROMATIC NITRO-COMPOUNDS

In this communication, the authors report that a trinuclear cobalt(I) complex PhCCo//3(CO)//9 can effectively catalyze reduction of aromatic nitro compounds in the presence of hydroxide ions at room temperature under a normal pressure of carbon monoxide. In spite of the fact that many stable crystalline alkylidynetricobalt nonacarbonyl complexes RCCo//3(CO)//9 are known, this is one of the first examples of the application of such a complex to a homogeneous catalysis. Satisfactory results were obtained under phase transfer conditions. Some preliminary results are summarized.