The Bechamp reduction is used to reduce aromatic nitro compounds to their corresponding anilines, using iron and hydrochloric acid.
This reaction was originally used to produce large amounts of aniline for industry, but catalytic hydrogenation is the preferred method. The Bechamp reaction is of interest as a route to iron oxide pigments.
The reaction was first used by Antoine Béchamp to reduce nitronaphthalene and nitrobenzene in 1854.
Reaction scope
The Bechamp reaction is broadly applicable to aromatic nitro compounds. Aliphatic nitro compounds are more difficult to reduce, often remaining as the hydroxylamine. Tertiary aliphatic nitro compounds, however, are converted in good yield to the amine compound using the Bechamp reduction.
References
Bechamp reduction Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA