Dissolving metal reduction of carboxylic esters. A re-evaluation of the mechanism

Abstract
The deoxygenation of carboxylic esters by reduction using potassium solubilised by 18-crown-6 in t-butylamine or lithium in ethylamine is shown to proceed via alkyl oxygen cleavage of the derived radial anion; in non-nucleophilic media deoxygenation giving alkane and carboxylate anion is the major pathway.

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