How to convert a carboxylic acid to an alcohol?

1 Answer
Aug 26, 2016

A carboxylic acid contains carboxylic group #-COOH#.

Its formula may be written as #RCOOH#

Alcohol is produced from it by REDUCTION , Then its #-COOH#group turns into #-CH_2OH# group( a primary alcoholic group.)

And the reaction is presented in the form of equation as

#RCOOH + [4H]->RCH_2OH+H_2O#

The Reagent of this REDUCTION process may be

#"Lithium tetrahydridoaluminate/Dry ether "->LiAlH_4#

The following link will help to know other reagents used for the process
http://www.organic-chemistry.org/synthesis/O1H/reductioncarboxylcompounds.shtm