Cerium Chloride Catalyzed Reduction Of Aromatic Esters To The Corresponding Alcohols With Sodium Borohydride In Water

摘要

The aldehydes and ketones can be reduced readily by NaBH_4 without any modification. NaBH_4 can not reduce esters and their derivatives under ambient conditions, reflux and standing overn ight are necessary. However, the activity of NaBH_4 can be enhanced by CeCl_3· 7H_2O. In this article, a general, highly efficient and mild methodology for obtaining alcohol compounds by reduction of the corresponding esters with NaBH_4 in the presence of a catalytic amount of CeCl_3·7H_2O in water is described.