In situ silane activation enables catalytic reduction of carboxylic acids.
Emma L StollThomas BarberDavid J HirstRoss M DentonPublished in: Chemical communications (Cambridge, England) (2022)
We describe a catalytic system for the conversion of carboxylic acids into alcohols using substoichiometric zinc acetate and N -methyl morpholine, in combination with phenylsilane as the nominal terminal reductant. Reaction monitoring by 19 F NMR spectroscopy demonstrates that the reaction proceeds by mutual activation of the carboxylic acid and silane through the in situ generation of silyl ester intermediates.
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