REDUCTIONS OF CARBOXYLIC-ACIDS AND THEIR DERIVATIVES USING SAMARIUM DIIODIDE-ACID SYSTEM

Carboxylic acid was converted to alcohol in a facile-rapid reduction using samarium diiodide in protic solvent under a basic or acidic medium at room temperature in high yield. A similar reaction of ester and anhydride reduced to the corresponding alcohol as the major products and nitrile afforded amine. Amide was rapidly reduced under a basic medium to afford alcohol, but the reduction with samarium diiodide-acid system of amide gave aldehyde in quantitative yield.