Novel functional group selectivity in reductions with lithium borohydride in mixed solvents containing methanol

Abstract

Primary amides were reduced selectively in the presence of carboxylic acid salts or secondary aliphatic amides by lithium borohydride in diglyme–methanol, and esters and epoxides were selectively reduced rapidly by LiBH₄ in the presence of nitro, chloro, or amide groups in ether containing a small amount of methanol.