Evaluating a sodium dispersion reagent for the Bouveault-Blanc reduction of esters.

A new sodium dispersion reagent has been evaluated for the reduction of esters. Na-D15, a sodium dispersion with sodium particle size of 5-15 μm, is a nonpyrophoric reagent that can be handled in air. In this study, a broad range of aliphatic ester substrates were reduced to primary alcohols by Na-D15/i-PrOH with good yields. The method compares favorably with modern metal hydride reductions and is much safer and efficient than the traditional Bouveault-Blanc reduction.