Reduction of Esters to Ethers Utilizing the Powerful Lewis Acid BF2OTf·OEt2

Authors

Brian Pagenkopf, University of Western OntarioFollow
Nicholas A. Morra

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-18-2007

Journal

Synthesis

Issue

4

First Page

511

Last Page

514

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1055/s-2008-1032141

Notes

The direct reduction of esters to their corresponding ethers has been achieved using the Lewis acid BF₂OTf·OEt₂ generated via anionic redistribution between TMSOTf and BF₃·OEt₂ with triethylsilane acting as the reducing agent. Isolated yields of up to 71% have been obtained with the corresponding alcohol as the only side product.