“…Scheme summarizes the known methods for the reduction of esters with NaBH 4 in methanol. Addition of metal salts, such as LiCl, LiBr, MgCl 2 , CaCl 2 , ZnCl 2 , and AlCl 3 , to sodium borohydride increases its reduction capabilities (Scheme , entry 1). − There are also reports of the reduction of esters using NaBH 4 in the presence of Ce or Co catalyst (Scheme , entry 2) supported on cationic surfaces . Under reflux conditions, NaBH 4 has been reported to reduce esters in protic solvents (Scheme , entry 3). ,− Esters bearing substituents like hydroxyl/oxo/amino in the α- or β-positions have been reduced by NaBH 4 via intramolecular hydride transfer (Scheme , entry 4). − Unfortunately, alcohol solvents, such as methanol, are not compatible with NaBH 4 at elevated temperatures because decomposition of NaBH 4 becomes competitive with the reduction.…”