Catalyzer Diisobutyl aluminum chloride

The reaction mechanism of DIBAL involves the transfer of a hydride ion (H-) from DIBAL to the carbonyl carbon, resulting in the formation of an alkoxide intermediate. This intermediate is then protonated by DIBAL to yield the corresponding alcohol.

DIBAL is often used in organic synthesis for various purposes, such as the reduction of ketones to alcohols, the selective reduction of esters to aldehydes, and the reduction of lactones to diols. It is also commonly employed in the synthesis of complex molecules, such as natural products and pharmaceuticals.

However, DIBAL has some limitations and considerations. It is a strong reducing agent, so it can potentially reduce other functional groups, such as nitro groups or double bonds, if they are present in the molecule. Therefore, it is important to carefully select reaction conditions and to protect any sensitive functional groups before using DIBAL.

Overall, DIBAL is a valuable tool in organic synthesis for the selective reduction of carbonyl compounds, providing a versatile method to access a wide range of alcohol derivatives.