Reduction of pentafluorophenyl esters to the corresponding primary alcohols using sodium borohydride

Primary alcohols and chiral N-protected 2-amino alcohols can be obtained in high yields from the reaction of pentafluorophenyl esters of the corresponding carboxylic acids with sodium borohydride in THF under mild conditions. This reductive method is rapid and compatible with various functional groups as well as with the most common N-protective groups Z, Boc and Fmoc.