Abstract
Aromatic nitro compounds are selectively hydrogenated to the corresponding amines in high yields at room temperature and atmospheric pressure using BER-Pd catalyst without affecting ketone, ether, ester, nitrile or chloro groups also present. Especially the nitro group in 4-nitrobenzyl alcohol, methyl 4-nitrobenzyl ether and N-N-dimethyl 4-nitrobenzylamine is selectively hydrogenated with this catalyst to give the corresponding amines without hydrogenolysis of benzylic groups. And aromatic nitro compound can be reduced selectively in the presence of aliphatic nitro compound.