Fundamentals of Organic ChemistryChemistryAlcohols Phenols and Ethers
Which of the following is the strongest reducing agent?
Options
- ALi ⁺ [ Al ( OCMe ₃ )₃ H ]⁻
- BAll of the above are equally strong reducing agents
- CLi ⁺ [ AlH ₄ ]⁻
- DAl ( CH ₂ CHMe ₂ )₂ H
Correct answer
C. Li ⁺ [ AlH ₄ ]⁻
Step-by-step solution
Li ⁺ [ AlH ₄ ]⁻ (Lithium aluminium hydride) is a powerful reducing agent capable of reducing a wide variety of functional groups, including carboxylic acids, esters, amides, and nitriles, to their corresponding alcohols or amines. Li ⁺ [ Al ( OCMe ₃ )₃ H ]⁻ (Lithium tri-tert-butoxyaluminium hydride) is a milder reducing agent due to the steric hindrance and electron-withdrawing nature of the tert-butoxy groups. It is typically used to selectively reduce acid chlorides to aldehydes. Al ( CH ₂ CHMe ₂ )₂ H (DIBAL-H) i