Pd‐Catalyzed Cleavage of Benzylic Nitro Bonds: New Opportunities for Asymmetric Synthesis

Without a trace: Benzylic nitroalkanes are reduced to the corresponding parent alkanes in good yields by using a simple procedure involving heterolytic CN bond cleavage (see scheme). Traceless removal of the nitro group leaves behind a stereogenic center that may otherwise be difficult to install. This reaction significantly expands the scope of building blocks that can be accessed.