Abstract: The reduction of nitro compounds by the nanometric sodium hydride(NaH^*)in the presence of a transition metal salt has been studied. The results show that the reductive activity of the nanometric NaH is greatly enhanced by the addition of a transition metal salt, so that a conversion of nitrobenzene over 90% can be achieved in a short time. It is found that nickel salt is the best promoter for the aniline formation, then is the manganese salt. Different hydrides(LiH^*, NaH^*, KH^*)exhibit different selectivities towards reaction pro ducts in the reduction of nitrobenzene. The results of reduction of several nitro compounds reveal that the combination of NaH^* and a nickel salt is an effective reagent for the reduction of aromatic nitro compounds to their corresponding amines.

Key words: nanometric sodium hydride, transition metal salt, nitro compound reduction