Phenol is commercially produced synthetically nowadays, but it was first isolated from coal tar in the early nineteenth century.

Commercially, carboxylic acids are reduced to alcohols by first converting them to esters, followed by catalytic hydrogenation. Lithium aluminium hydride (LiAlH₄) is considered less economical for this purpose due to its high cost, and it is primarily used for specialized ...

Aldehydes yield primary alcohols, while ketones give secondary alcohols upon reduction. Reduction by lithium aluminium hydride involves the addition of hydride ions and is an effective method for obtaining alcohols from aldehydes and ketones.

Aldehydes and ketones are reduced to alcohols by catalytic hydrogenation, employing finely divided metals like platinum, palladium, or nickel as catalysts. Alternatively, sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) or lithium aluminium hydride (LiAlH₄) can be used.

In hydroboration–oxidation, borane adds to the double bond with the boron atom attaching to the sp² carbon carrying more hydrogen atoms, contrary to Markovnikov’s rule. The reaction yields excellent alcohol formation.