ChemInform Abstract: Rhodium-Catalyzed Reduction of Esters to Alcohols Using Diphenylsilane

Carboxylic esters were reduced to alcohols by diphenylsilane catalyzed by a Rh complex at room temperature. For example, ethyl decanoate and ethyl phenylacetate were converted to decanol and 2-phenylethanol by [ RhCl(cod) ] 2 4PPh 3 for 72 hours in 98 and 92% yields, respectively. Wilkinson's catalyst is also usable, and the reduction of ethyl decanoate finished in 6 hours at room temperature. The bromo-substitutent on ethyl 7-bromoheptanoate remained intact through this reduction.