Selective reduction of carboxylic acids either to aldehydes or alcohols is achieved using a one pot procedure based on iron-catalyzed hydrosilylations. Using phenylsilane and (COD)Fe(CO)3 catalyst under UV-irradiation at rt, alcohols were obtained specifically in good yields, whereas aldehydes were selectively obtained using TMDS and (t-PBO)Fe(CO)3 catalyst under thermal activation.
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