Selenium-Catalysed One Stage Preparation of Aryl Schiff Bases from Nitroarenes, Aryl Aldehydes and Carbon Monoxide

Abstract

An efficient method for the “one-pot” preparation of aryl Schiff bases is reported. In the presence of a selenium catalyst, the aryl Schiff bases have been prepared by a one-stage condensation of nitroarenes and aryl aldehydes using carbon monoxide as reducing agent at atmospheric pressure. The reductive condensation occurs with high selectivity regardless of the substituent groups on the aromatic ring without affecting other reducible functional groups.