PREPARATION OF ALDEHYDES BY REDUCTION OF DIMETHYLAMIDES OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS WITH SODIUM ALUMINOHYDRIDE

The selective reduction of N,N-disubstituted amides by sodium aluminohydride and alkoxyaluminohydrides has proved a useful synthetic route from carboxylic acids to the corresponding aldehydes. Dimethylamides of aliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic acids of widely varying structural types have been reduced by sodium aluminohydride to aldehydes, in yields from 70 to 90%. © 1969.