A suspension of 6-Chloro-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-indazole (700 mg, 3.31 mmol), NH4CI (1 .59g, 29.77mmol) & Fe powder (1.66g, 29.77mmol) in a mixture of EtOH: Water (15mL: 15mL) was heated to 80°C for 6h. After 6h, TLC analysis indicated the formation of a polar spot (Ninhydrin positive). Then, the reaction mixture was cooled to RT and filtered through the celite bed; the celite bed was washed with EtOH (50mL); the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give a crude product. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (silica gel 100-200mesh) using 25% EtOAc in petroleum ether as an eluent to give 6- chloro-2-methyl-2H-indazol-5-amine (quantitative yield) as an off-white solid.
