中国科学院重庆绿色智能技术研究院机构知识库

A novel ether/BF3reductive system has been described, in which diphenylmethanols and their ether and ester derivatives are used as starting materials. Reductions are performed in ether under reflux and an argon atmosphere, and the addition of extra water is beneficial to this reduction. A series of alkanes are able to be prepared with good to excellent yields. A deuterated experiment exhibits that the reductive hydrogen is generated from ether. The mechanism is discussed in detail to explain the observed reactivity. © 2015 The Royal Society of Chemistry.