title: Evaluating a sodium dispersion reagent for the Bouveault-Blanc reduction of esters.
abstract: A new sodium dispersion reagent has been evaluated for the reduction of esters. Na-D15, a sodium dispersion with sodium particle size of 5-15 μm, is a nonpyrophoric reagent that can be handled in air. In this study, a broad range of aliphatic ester substrates were reduced to primary alcohols by Na-D15/i-PrOH with good yields. The method compares favorably with modern metal hydride reductions and is much safer and efficient than the traditional Bouveault-Blanc reduction.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Manchester , Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: D Neil
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Work
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kenyon
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Procter