Highly selective and controllable synthesis of arylhydroxylamines by the reduction of nitroarenes with an electron-withdrawing group using a new nitroreductase BaNTR1.

A new bacterial nitroreductase has been identified and used as a biocatalyst for the controllable reduction of a variety of nitroarenes with an electron-withdrawing group to the corresponding N-arylhydroxylamines under mild reaction conditions with excellent selectivity (>99%). This method therefore represents a green and efficient method for the synthesis of arylhydroxylamines.