Abstract

In the synthesis of complex molecules, particularly in connection with natural products, it is occasionally desirable to prepare an aldehyde when the readily available starting material is the corresponding acid. The Rosenmund reduction is probably the most useful method for application to a large number of aldehydes of varied types. The Rosenmund reduction consists in the selective hydrogenation of an acid chloride in the presence of a suitable catalyst, usually supported palladium to the corresponding aldehyde.