REDUCTION OF AZANAPHTHALENES BY SODIUM-BOROHYDRIDE IN TRIFLUOROACETIC-ACID

Although reduction of nitrogen heterocyclics by sodium borohydride and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) has been reported1-4 over the past three years, the types of compounds successfully reduced have been limited mainly to substituted indoles and amines. The application of sodium borohydride and TFA to other nitrogen-containing heterocyclics has not been extensively explored, and the full scope of the reaction has yet to be realized. This report describes a method for the reduction of a variety of azanaphthalenes in good yield under generally mild conditions compatible with the presence of many functional groups. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.