BRAINCAKEReduction of Carboxylic Acids
Carboxylic acids are reduced to primary alcohols by lithium tetrahydridoaluminate(III), LiAlH4.
Conditions: LiAlH4 in dry ether at room temperature, followed by the careful addition of dilute acid. The ether must be dry because LiAlH4 reacts violently with water.
The COOH group is reduced to CH2OH. The reaction passes through an aldehyde, but the aldehyde is reduced more easily than the acid, so it cannot be isolated and the product is the primary alcohol. Using [H] for the reducing agent:
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More in Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives
- Carboxylic Acids
- Physical Properties of Carboxylic Acids
- Preparation of Carboxylic Acids
- Reactions with Bases
- Reaction with PCl5
- Esterification
- Acyl Chlorides
- Reactions of Acyl Chlorides with Water, Alcohols, Ammonia and Amines
All 12 lessons in Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives · All Edexcel A-level Chemistry topics