Lithium aluminum hydride reduction of ester

The products are liberated by hydrolysis of the aluminum alkoxide at the end of the reaction. Lithium aluminum hydride reduction of esters to alcohols involves an elimination step in addition to hydride transfers. 

Curtin used a combination of methylene chloride and ether for the lithium aluminum hydride reduction of esters insoluble in ether. 

Lithium aluminum hydride reduction of esters follows a similar pattern, giving first an aldehyde as an intermediate, which is then rapidly reduced to a primary alcohol. 

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