A metal-free reduction of nitro aromatics mediated by diboronic acid with water as both the hydrogen donor and solvent under mild conditions has been developed. A series of aromatic amines were obtained with good functional group tolerance and in good yields.
An unprecedented palladium-catalyzed chemoselective reduction and reductive amination of nitroarenes with water as a hydrogen source mediated by diboronic acid have been discovered. A series of aryl amines containing various reducible functional groups were obtained in good to excellent yields.