Palladium catalyzed activation of borane–amine adducts: rate enhancement of amine–borane methanolysis in the reduction of nitrobenzenes to anilines

Hydrolytically stable borane–amines can be activated in situ through palladium catalysis and perform reductions not possible otherwise. Hence, borane–trimethylamine is an efficient hydrogen-transfer reagent for the open vessel reduction of nitroaryls to anilines. Likewise, the palladium catalyzed methanolysis/decomplexation of stable borane–amine adducts is accelerated by the action of nitrobenzene.