A new ‘one-pot’ synthesis of hydrazides by reduction of hydrazones

A new, high-yielding methodology for reducing hydrazones to hydrazines is described, which allows the synthesis of different mono-, di- and trisubstituted hydrazines. Moreover, the reduction step can be followed by an in situ reaction with a carboxylic acid making possible a ‘one-pot’ synthesis of trisubstituted hydrazides. The method is relatively general and, in principle, suitable for industrial applications.