STEPWISE REDUCTION OF ACETALS TO THE CORRESPONDING HYDROCARBONS - A MILD AND EFFECTIVE TRANSFORMATION VIA CARBONYL BROMIDES

Stepwise reduction of two alkoxyl groups in acetal was affected by the action of triethylsilane along with acetyl bromide and SnBr2 and then of tributyltin hydride (or lithium aluminium hydride) providing methyl or methylene compounds in good yields under very mild conditions.