Synthesis

Reduction of esters to ethers utilizing the powerful lewis acid BF2OTf· OEt2

NA Morra, BL Pagenkopf

Index: Morra, Nicholas A.; Pagenkopf, Brian L. Synthesis, 2008 , # 4 p. 511 - 514

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Citation Number: 4

Abstract

Abstract The direct reduction of esters to their corresponding ethers has been achieved using the Lewis acid BF 2 OTf· OEt 2 generated via anionic redistribution between TMSOTf and BF 3· OEt 2 with triethylsilane acting as the reducing agent. Isolated yields of up to 71% have been obtained with the corresponding alcohol as the only side product.