Chemoselective Ruthenium-Catalysed Reduction of Carboxylic Acids

A very general and efficient catalytic protocol for the selective reduction of carboxylic acids to their corresponding alcohols under mild conditions is described. Various carboxylic acids, including benzoic acids, were reduced in good yields using the presented methodology. The ruthenium-catalysed method yields a highly chemoselective reduction permitting the reduction of a carboxylic acid functionality in the presence of numerous other potentially reducible moieties.