Conversion of carboxylic acids to alcohols using LiAlH4

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Jan 23, 2023
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- Conversion of carboxylic acids to acid chlorides
- Conversion of Carboxylic acids to amides using DCC as an activating agent

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Carboxylic acids can be converted to 1^o alcohols using Lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH₄). Note that NaBH₄ is not strong enough to convert carboxylic acids or esters to alcohols. An aldehyde is produced as an intermediate during this reaction, but it cannot be isolated because it is more reactive than the original carboxylic acid.