Direct Ruthenium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Carboxylic Acids to Alcohols

Abstract

The "green" reduction of carboxylic acids to alcohols is a challenging task in organic chemistry. Herein, we describe a general protocol for generation of alcohols by catalytic hydrogenation of carboxylic acids. Key to success is the use of a combination of Ru(acac)3, triphos and Lewis acids. The novel method showed broad substrate tolerance and a variety of aliphatic carboxylic acids including biomass-derived compounds can be smoothly reduced.

Keywords: alcohols; carboxylic acids; homogeneous catalysis; hydrogenation; ruthenium.