A Simple Alkene -Catalyzed Reduction of Aromatic Esters to Alcohols by Zinc Borohydride

Abstract Reactivity of Zn(BH4)2 was modified by adding cyclohexene to achieve the reduction of aromatic esters to alcohols which reaction was not possible previously because of the mild nature of the reagent. Functional groups like Cl and nitro were tolerated. Notes The reductions were carried out using stoichiometric quantities of hydride using 10 mole% of cyclohexene as catalyst; the products were characterized by spectral data, melting point and by comparison with standard samples.