Facile one-pot reduction of β-nitrostyrenes to phenethylamines using sodium borohydride and copper(II) chloride

Phenethylamines and phenylisopropylamines of scientific relevance can be prepared with a NaBH(4)/CuCl(2) system in 10 to 30 minutes via reduction of substituted β-nitrostyrenes. This one-pot procedure allows the quick isolation of substituted β-nitrostyrene scaffolds with 62-83% yield under mild conditions, without the need for special precautions, inert atmosphere, and time-consuming purification techniques.