Skip to main content
Chemistry LibreTexts

20.7: Reduction of Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives

  • Page ID
    28263
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Since relatively few methods exist for the reduction of carboxylic acid derivatives to aldehydes, it would be useful to modify the reactivity and solubility of LAH to permit partial reductions of this kind to be achieved. The most fruitful approach to this end has been to attach alkoxy or alkyl groups on the aluminum. This not only modifies the reactivity of the reagent as a hydride donor, but also increases its solubility in nonpolar solvents. Two such reagents will be mentioned here; the reactive hydride atom is colored blue.

    Lithium tri-tert-butoxyaluminohydride (LtBAH), LiAl[OC(CH3)3]3H : Soluble in THF, diglyme & ether.
    Diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAH), [(CH3)2CHCH2]2AlH : Soluble in toluene, THF & ether.

    Each of these reagents carries one equivalent of hydride. The first (LtBAH) is a complex metal hydride, but the second is simply an alkyl derivative of aluminum hydride. In practice, both reagents are used in equimolar amounts, and usually at temperatures well below 0 ºC. The following examples illustrate how aldehydes may be prepared from carboxylic acid derivatives by careful application of these reagents. A temperature of -78 ºC is easily maintained by using dry-ice as a coolant.

    Reduction of Acid Chlorides and Esters

    Acid chlorides can be converted to aldehydes using lithium tri-tert-butoxyaluminum hydride (LiAlH(Ot-Bu)3). The hydride source (LiAlH(Ot-Bu)3) is a weaker reducing agent than lithium aluminum hydride. Because acid chlorides are highly activated they still react with the hydride source; however, the formed aldehyde will react slowly, which allows for its isolation.

    General Reaction:

    1.jpg

    Example 1
    2.jpg

    Acid chlorides can be converted to aldehydes using lithium tri-tert-butoxyaluminum hydride (LiAlH(Ot-Bu)3). The hydride source (LiAlH(Ot-Bu)3) is a weaker reducing agent than lithium aluminum hydride. Because acid chlorides are highly activated they still react with the hydride source; however, the formed aldehyde will react slowly, which allows for its isolation.

    General Reaction:

    1.jpg

    Example 1
    2.jpg

    Esters can be converted to aldehydes using diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAH). The reaction is usually carried out at -78 oC to prevent reaction with the aldehyde product.

    1.jpg

    Example 1:

    2.jpg

    Esters can be converted to 1o alcohols using LiAlH4, while sodium borohydride (\(NaBH_4\)) is not a strong enough reducing agent to perform this reaction.

    1.jpg

    Example 1:
    2.jpg

    Mechanism

    1) Nucleophilic attack by the hydride

    3.jpg

    2) Leaving group removal

    4.jpg

    3) Nucleopilic attack by the hydride anion

    5.jpg

    4) The alkoxide is protonated

    6.jpg

    Reduction of Carboxylic Acids and Amides

    Carboxylic acids can be converted to 1o 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.

    1.jpg

    Going from reactant to products simplified

    2.jpg

    Example

    3.jpg

    Possible Mechanism

    1) Deprotonation

    4.jpg

    2) Nucleopilic attack by the hydride anion

    5.jpg

    3) Leaving group removal

    6.jpg

    4) Nucleopilic attack by the hydride anion

    7.jpg

    5) The alkoxide is protonated

    8.jpg

    Amides can be converted to 1°, 2° or 3° amines using LiAlH4.

    General Reaction

    1.jpg

    Example 1: Amide Reductions

    2.jpg

    Alkyl groups attached to the nitrogen do not affect the reaction.

    3.jpg

    Mechanism

    1) Nucleophilic attach by the hydride

    4.jpg

    2) Leaving group removal

    5.jpg

    3) Nucleophilic attach by the hydride

    6.jpg

    Contributors


    This page titled 20.7: Reduction of Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Layne Morsch.

    • Was this article helpful?