Bouveault–Blanc reduction

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The Bouveault–Blanc reduction is a chemical reaction in which an ester is reduced to primary alcohols using absolute ethanol and sodium metal.[1][2][3]

This reaction is an inexpensive and large-scale alternative to lithium aluminium hydride reduction of esters.

Reaction mechanism

Sodium metal is a single-electron reducing agent, meaning the sodium metal will transfer electrons one at a time. Four sodium atoms are required to fully reduce each ester to alcohols. Ethanol serves as a proton source.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bouveault, L.; Blanc, G. (1903). Compt. Rend. 136: 1676. 
  2. ↑ Bouveault, L.; Blanc, G. (1904). Bull. Soc. Chim. France 31: 666. 
  3. ↑ Adkins, H.; Gillespie, R. H. (1955), "Oleyl alcohol", Org. Synth. ; Coll. Vol. 3: 671 
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