One-pot reductive monoalkylation of nitro aryls with hydrogen over Pd/C

A range of different nitro aryls were converted in one-pot to the corresponding secondary alkyl amino aryls in good to excellent yields by using aldehydes as alkyl source and hydrogen over Pd/C (10%) as reducing agent. In all examples, but one, the secondary amine was the sole alkylation product isolated. When formaldehyde was used as the alkyl source, substantial amount of the corresponding tertiary amine was isolated, however, by altering the reaction conditions slightly the corresponding secondary amine could be isolated in superb yield.