Carboxylic acids can be reduced to primary alcohols using lithium aluminium hydride or diborane. Diborane is preferable as it avoids reduction of other functional groups.
How can carboxylic acids be reduced to primary alcohols, and which reducing agents are effective in this process?
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Carboxylic acids can be reduced to primary alcohols through various methods, with common reducing agents including lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH₄) and sodium borohydride (NaBH₄). LiAlH₄ is a potent and versatile reducing agent that can reduce carboxylic acids to primary alcohols in a one-step process. However, it is highly reactive and must be used cautiously. NaBH₄ is milder and safer but is generally effective only for less sterically hindered carboxylic acids. The reduction involves the addition of hydride ions (H⁻) to the carbonyl carbon of the carboxylic acid, leading to the formation of a primary alcohol.