Chapter 18.4, Problem 4P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: It is to be identified if catalytic hydrogenation can be used to reduce a carboxylic acid to a primary alcohol in the first step of the sequence ${\text{RCO}}_{\text{2}}\text{H}\to {\text{RCH}}_{\text{2}}\text{OH}\to \text{RCHO}$.

Concept introduction: The addition of ${\text{H}}_{\text{2}}$ to a molecule in the presence of a catalyst is known as catalytic hydrogenation reaction. This process is used to reduce aldehydes and ketones to alcohols.

Lithium aluminum hydride and sodium borohydride are strong reducing agents. They are inorganic compounds which are used as the reducing agents in organic synthesis. They used for the conversion of carboxylic acids, aldehydes and ketones into primary and secondary alcohols.