Harnessing the Oxygen Vacancies in Metal Oxides for Nitroreduction

Abstract

Oxygen vacancies are one of the prominent types of defects in metal oxides. In addition to their role in modifying the electronic properties in solids, these sites have been shown to activate chemical bonds. As a result, the use of defect‐rich metal oxides in the organic transformations is promising. The article gives an overview of various chemical processes that are in use for the chemical reduction of aromatic nitro compounds to amines. Recently, application of oxygen vacancies in transition metal oxide for the selective reduction of aromatic nitro compounds to the corresponding amines has emerged as a new method of synthesis of amines.