Xicori>
Yes, I've had my doubts about the Zn/formate reduction of nitroalcohols. Tried it with the fluoro version, but the product was never GC'ed, so I can't be sure of the result.
I would think that the acidic environment in which the formate reductions runs splits the nitroalcohol back to the benzaldehyde and actually reduces the nitroethane to ethylamine to a large extent.
Is it possible to use Pd/C reduction for the nitro group, without hurting the alcohol group? I've read about reduction methods of aminoalcohols (ephedrine) with catalytic hydrogenation. But that was under pressure... Any idea how potassium formate as the hydrogen donor will affect this under CTH conditions? This way, the pH is surely kept basic at all times...
Guess theres only one way to find out
Regards
Bandil