Abstract
Selective reduction of functional groups by use of dissolving calcium metal was performed, and the results are in comparison with those by lithium and sodium metals. Reduction with 2.0-2.2 equiv of calcium led chromone (1) to 4-chromanone (2, 75% yield), coumarin (4) to dihydrocoumarin (5, 76% yield) and 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propanol (6, 6% yield), α-tetralone (7) to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthol (8, 81% yield), and β-methoxystyrene (12) to methyl phenethyl ether (13, 85% yield). Performance of reductions on the same substrates by use of 4.0 equiv of lithium or sodium metal gave over-reduced products. Reduction of indole-3-carboxaldehyde (15) to 3-indolemethanol (16), 1-acetylnaphthalene (17) to 1-acetyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalene (18), and trans-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one (19) to 4-phenyl-2-butanone (20) were accomplished by use of calcium, lithium, and sodium metals, among which calcium gave the highest yields (80-90%). Being a milder reducing agent than lithium and sodium, calcium metal in liquid ammonia offered a better selectivity.