Sodium Cyanoborohydride–Mediated Direct Conversion of Some Heterocyclic Aldehydes to Esters

Abstract

An exceptional oxidizing behavior of sodium cyanoborohydride is observed where electron-withdrawing heterocyclic aldehydes are directly converted to their corresponding esters on treatment of sodium cyanoborohydride in methanol. The spectral analysis and single-crystal structure confirm the formation of esters.

Keywords:

• Esterification
• heterocyclic aldehydes
• heterocyclic esters
• sodium cyanoborohydride

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) [No. 01(2292)/09/EMR-II], government of India, for financial support. A. H. thanks the CSIR, government of India, for a research fellowship. The authors also thank the Malaysian Government and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) for Research University Golden Goose Grant No. 1001/PFIZIK/811012. J. H. G. thanks the USM for a fellowship.

Notes

^a Reactions were monitored by TLC analysis. Isolated yields were of chromatographically obtained pure materials.