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MolSynapse / Question bank / Reduction, Oxidation and Hydrolysis in Organic Chemistry / Hydride reductions of drawn compounds (LiAlH4 / NaBH4 / DIBAL-H)
JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3ro231

Which reagent converts the compound shown into the corresponding primary alcohol?

  1. A in dry ether, then
  2. B in ethanol
  3. C / conc.
  4. D, Pd/C at 1 atm and room temperature

Answer: A

The compound is butanoic acid. Only the strong hydride donor reduces a carboxylic acid to butan-1-ol. is too weak, Clemmensen reduction (/HCl) targets ketones and gives alkanes, and Pd/C with does not reduce a carboxyl group under mild conditions.
Practice Reduction, Oxidation and Hydrolysis in Organic Chemistry More on Hydride reductions of drawn compounds (LiAlH4 / NaBH4 / DIBAL-H)

More questions on Hydride reductions of drawn compounds (LiAlH4 / NaBH4 / DIBAL-H)