Electron transfer reduction of unactivated esters using SmI2-H2O

Michal Szostak1, Malcolm Spain, David J Procter

  • 1School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.

Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|August 23, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Samarium diiodide effectively reduces unactivated esters, including primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl types. This new method offers excellent yields, rivaling traditional metal hydride and alkali metal reductions.

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