Extended scope of in situ iodotrimethylsilane mediated selective reduction of benzylic alcohols

Iodotrimethylsilane, generated in situ from chlorotrimethylsilane and sodium iodide in acetonitrile, selectively reduces moderately electron deficient benzylic alcohols to the analogous toluenes; other reduction sensitive functional groups such as ketone, aldehyde, nitrile, and nitro are unaffected.