Abstract
The approximate rates and stoichiometry of the reaction of excess lithium tripiperidinoaluminum hydride (LTPDA), an alicyclic aminoaluminum hydride, with selected organic compounds containing representative functional groups under the standardized conditions (tetrahydrofuran, 25°) were examined in order to define the reducing characteristics of the reagent for selective reductions. The reducing ability of LTPDA was also compared with those of the parent lithium aluminum hydride (LAH) and lithium tris(diethylamino)aluminum hydride (LTDEA), a representative aliphatic aminoaluminum hydride. In general, the reactivity of LTPDA toward organic functionalities is weaker than LTDEA and much weaker than LAH. LTPDA shows a unique reducing characteristics. Thus, benzyl alcohol, phenol and thiols evolve a quantitative amount of hydrogen rapidly. The rate of hydrogen evolution of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols is distinctive. LTPDA reduces aldehydes, ketones, esters, acid chlorides and epoxides readily to the corresponding alcohols. Quinones, such as p-benzoquinone and anthraquinone, are reduced to the corresponding diols without hydrogen evolution. Tertiary amides and nitriles are also reduced readily to the corresponding amines. The reagent reduces nitro compounds and azobenzene to the amine stages. Disulfides are reduced to thiols, and sulfoxides and sulfones are converted to sulfides. Additionally, the reagent appears to be a good partial reducing agent to convert primary carboxamides into the corresponding aldehydes.