Simple reduction of ethyl, isopropyl and benzyl aromatic esters to alcohols using sodium borohydride-methanol system

Abstract

Several aromatic ethyl, isopropyl and benzyl esters were reduced to their corresponding alcohols in sodium borohydride-methanol system. The reductions were completed within 15-60 minutes in refluxing THF. The alcohol products were isolated after aqueous workup in good to excellent yields (63-100%). The general procedure presented is simple, safe, inexpensive and with good perspective in industrial scale. ©ARKAT.