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Updated: Jun 21, 2025
Synthesis of Esters Via a Greener Steglich Esterification in Acetonitrile
Published on: October 30, 2018
Ammonia-Borane Dependent Transfer Hydrogenation of Carboxylic Esters to Primary Alcohols
Sandeep Kumawat1, Suravi Dey1, Kishore Natte1
1Laboratory for Sustainable Catalysis and Organic Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy 502 285, Telangana, India.
Abstract:
Here, we present a user-friendly protocol that uses bench-stable NH3·BH3 (AB) as the hydrogen transfer agent for the reduction of both aromatic and aliphatic esters without an external catalyst and base, delivering a structurally diverse array of primary alcohols (80-98% yields). The broad functional-group tolerance (halogen, boronic ester, -NO2, -OH, etc.) under environmentally acceptable conditions implies high practical utility. Further, a tandem catalytic conversion of a plastic waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle to 1,4-benzenedimethanol including fatty esters into respective fatty alcohols was shown.
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