Further Information
Literature
Related Reactions
Acyloin Condensation
Pinacol Coupling Reaction
Bouveault-Blanc Reduction
This method is an inexpensive substitute for LAH reductions of esters in industrial production, and was the only alternative prior to the development of the metal hydride reducing agents. This dissolving metal reduction is also related to the Birch Reduction.
Mechanism of the Bouveault-Blanc Reduction
Sodium serves as single electron reducing agent and EtOH is the proton donor. If no proton donor is available, dimerization will take place, as the Acyloin Condensation.
Recent Literature
Sodium in silica gel (Na-SG) - a safe, free-flowing powder - has been used for
the Bouveault-Blanc reduction of various aliphatic esters. Primary alcohols were
prepared in excellent yield under mild reaction conditions.
B. S. Bodnar, P. F. Vogt, J. Org. Chem., 2009,
74, 2598-2600.
