Studies on Optically Active Amino Acids. V∗5. Synthesis of Optically Active α-Aminoalcohols by the Reduction of α-Amino Acid Esters with Sodium Borohydride

Abstract

It is generally accepted that sodium borohydride, a useful reducing agent for aldehydes and ketones, does not reduce carboxylic esters and orthoesters. This facts were shown by many instances in the literatures reported by Brown,1) Chaikin2), and other many researchers.3) However, there are some “abnormal” cases4~7) in which reduction of ester groups to the corresponding primary alcohols has been observed, especially in the field of sugar chemistry. Wolfrom, et al.5) reported that sugar esters and lactones were reduced by sodium borohydride and other instances6) were given in this region. © 1965, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.