A CONVENIENT PROCEDURE FOR THE REDUCTION OF ESTERS, CARBOXYLIC-ACIDS,KETONES AND ALDEHYDES USING TETRABUTYLAMMONIUM FLUORIDE (OR TRITON(R)-B) AND POLYMETHYLHYDROSILOXANE

A range of carboxylic esters and acids have been converted efficiently to the corresponding alcohols with polymethylhydrosiloxane in the pre sence of catalytic tetrabutylammonium fluoride. The reduction of keton es and aldehydes with PMHS and other alkoxysilanes in the presence of TBAF or benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide is also described.