A novel synthetic method for the preparation of aliphatic aldehydes from the corresponding carboxylic acids
A novel synthetic method for the preparation of aliphatic aldehydes from the corresponding carboxylic acids via 1,3-dimethylbenzimidazolium salts is provided. 1,3-Dimethylbenzimidazolium salts were rapidly reduced with sodium/ethanol and then hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid to obtain aliphatic aldehydes, in which the 1,3-dimethylbenzimidazolium salts can be readily achieved from the corresponding carboxylic acids. The mechanism for the reductive reaction of 1,3-dimethylbenzimidazolium salts with sodium/ethanol was discussed.