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Frequently Asked Question
Questions asked by users might not always be phrased in the clearest way.
Which reagent could you use to transform cinnamic acid in Figure 38 into cinnamic alcohol? * nabh₄, ethanol [1] LiAlH₄, [2] H⁺ H₂, Pt All these reagents will product cinnamic alcohol. none of these reagents will product cinnamic alcohol.
Accepted Answer
The correct reagent to transform cinnamic acid into cinnamic alcohol is [1] LiAlH₄, [2] H⁺. Here's why:
LiAlH₄ (Lithium Aluminum Hydride) is a strong reducing agent capable of reducing carboxylic acids to primary alcohols. It will reduce the carboxylic acid group in cinnamic acid to an alcohol group.
H⁺ (acidic workup) is necessary after the LiAlH₄ reduction to protonate the alkoxide intermediate and form the alcohol.
The other options are incorrect because:
NaBH₄ (Sodium Borohydride) is a milder reducing agent and is not strong enough to reduce carboxylic acids.
H₂, Pt (hydrogenation) is primarily used for reducing alkenes and alkynes, not carboxylic acids.
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