A Convenient Procedure for the Reduction of Esters, Carboxylic Acids, Ketones and Aldehydes using Tetrabutylammonium Fluoride (or Triton^® B) and Polymethylhydrosiloxane

Abstract

A range of carboxylic esters and acids have been converted efficiently to the corresponding alcohols with polymethylhydrosiloxane in the presence of catalytic tetrabutylammonium fluoride. The reduction of ketones and aldehydes with PMHS and other alkoxysilanes in the presence of TBAF or benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide is also described.