Rhodium-catalyzed reduction of esters to alcohols using diphenylsilane

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)01435-5

Carboxylic esters were reduced to alcohols by diphenylsilane catalyzed by a Rh complex at room temperature. For example, ethyl decanoate and ethyl phenylacetate were converted to decanol and 2-phenylethanol by [RhCl(cod)]₂ / 4PPh₃ for 72 hours in 98 and 92% yields, respectively. Wilkinson's catalyst is also usable, and the reduction of ethyl decanoate finished in 6 hours at room temperature. The bromo-substituent on ethyl 7-bromoheptanoate remained intact through this reduction.