CBSreduction
CBSreduction refers to a chemical process used in organic synthesis to selectively reduce carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) to their corresponding alcohols without affecting other functional groups present in the molecule. The method is named after the reagents commonly employed: cyanoborohydride salts, such as sodium cyanoborohydride (NaBH₃CN) or ammonium acetate-buffered sodium cyanoborohydride. This reduction is particularly valuable in pharmaceutical and fine chemical synthesis due to its mild conditions and compatibility with sensitive functional groups like esters, amides, and nitriles.
The CBS reduction is a stereoselective reduction, meaning it can produce chiral alcohols with high enantiomeric
The mechanism involves the formation of a borane complex with the carbonyl compound, followed by hydride transfer
CBSreduction is widely applied in the synthesis of complex natural products, chiral intermediates, and pharmaceuticals where