Iron-Catalyzed Reduction of Carboxylic Esters to Alcohols.

A novel catalytic system formed from Fe(stearate)2/NH2CH2CH2NH2 and polymethylhydrosiloxane was directly developed for the hydrosilylation of carboxylic acid esters to alcohols. The catalytic method exhibits broad substrate scope, including 20 aliphatic, aromatic, and heterocyclic esters. The corresponding alcohols are obtained in moderate to very good yields.