Selective Reduction of Keto Esters with Zinc Borohydride

[摘要] Selective reduction of carbonyl group with zinc borohydride in the presence of ester functional group was demonstrated with seven representative keto esters. Either hydroxy esters or lactones were obtained in good yields; ethyl 6-hydroxyheptanoate (83.0 %), ethyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-2-cyclohexenecarboxylate (82.3 %), ethyl p-(¥á-hydroxyethyl)-phenylacetate (78.9 %), 4-phenylbutyrolactone (70.2 %), and 3-phenylphthalide (92.4 %) were obtained from the corresponding keto esters.

[学科分类] 化学（综合）