Question

Which ester would give ethanol and methanol on reduction?

Answer 1

Answer:

My compound is containing lactam ring and ethyl ester and I'm planning to selectively reduce the ester to alcohol. I've tried to use LiAlH4 at 0 C but the mixture product of amide and amine was observed. In scifinder I found many publications using NaBH4 and it's work very well even though doing the reaction at rt for a few hour. So I'm just wondering why the NaBH4 can reduce the ester