Revisiting the Saito Photochemical Reduction and the Development of a One‐Pot Deoxygenation of Alcohols

Abstract We have revisited the Saito photochemical reduction and established practical reaction conditions, under which the reduction of m‐(trifluoromethyl)benzoates, derived from secondary and tertiary alcohols, proceeds selectively at high concentration to afford the corresponding alkane products in good yields without formation of alkenes. A one‐pot deoxygenation of alcohols to alkanes has also been developed.