Selective Reduction of Diaryl or Aryl Alkyl Alcohols in the Presence of Primary Hydroxyl or Ester Groups by Etherated Boron Trifluoride-Triethylsilane System

Diaryl or aryl alkyl carbinols bearing a second reducible functional group (such as hydroxyl or ester) are selectively deoxygenated in high yields by the action of etherated boron trifluoride and triethyl silane reducing system.