Selective reduction of organic compounds with Al-acetoxy- and Al-trifluoroacetoxydiisobutylalane

The new MPV-type reagents, Al-acetoxydiisobutylalane (DIBAOAc) and Al-trifluoroacetoxydiisobutylalane (DIBAO 2 CCF 3 ), have been prepared and their reducing characteristics in the reduction of selected organic compounds containing representative functional groups have been examined in order to find out a new reducing system with unique applicability in organic synthesis. In general, the reactivity of DIBAO 2 CCF 3 appears to be much stronger than that of DIBAOAc, presumably due to the acidity increase by the electron-withdrawing fluorine-substituent. Both reagents reduce aldehydes and ketones relatively slowly, but show an excellent selectivity in 1,2-reduction of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to produce the corresponding allylic alcohols in an absolutely 100% purity. In addition, the reagents achieve the regioselective cleavage of phenyl- or alkyl-substituted epoxides to the less substituted alcohols in an excellent selectivity. Moreover, both reagents show interesting features in the stereoreduction of cyclic ketones. However, these reagents show a very low or/and no reactivity toward most organic functional groups other than carbonyl and epoxy function.