What are the groups that LiAlH4 can and cannot reduce?

Lithium aluminium hydride (LiAIH4) is a nucleophilic reducing agent, and used to reduce polar multiple bonds like >C=O, -CN bond because it is hydride (H-) donor. And it is simply abbreviated as LAH.

LIAIH₄ can reduce:
(1) Aldehydes to primary alcohols,
(2) Ketones to secondary alcohols,
(3) Carboxylic acids and esters to primary alcohols.
(4) Acid chlorides to primary alcohols.
(5) Ester to primary alcohols.
(6) Acid anhydrides to primary alcohols.
(7) Amides and nitriles to primary amines.
(8) Isonitriles to secondary amines.
(9) Epoxides (Cyclic ethers) to alcohols.
(10) lactones (Cyclic esters) to diols. 

Important Notes:
LiAH4 can reduce Aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, ester, acid chlorides, acids anhydrides, acid amides,  Nitro Compounds and nitriles and isonitriles  without attacking (Isolated non polar bonds , like -C=C- ) double bonds present in the Compounds. The only exception in this case alpha- Beta unsaturated compounds containing phenyl group in the Beta position, in this case LiAH₄ also attack on double bond.
We can say that the double or triple bonds in conjugation with the polar multiple bonds can be reduced.

Oxymercuration demercuration hydration procedure is superior to acid- catalysed hydration of most alkenes. Why ?

Oxymercuration demercuration hydration procedure is superior to acid- catalysed hydration of most alkenes. Because (1) the two stage process of oxymercuration demercuration is fast and takes place under mild condilions and gives more than 90 % yield of alcohol and (2) rearrangement doesn't take place hence most desire product easily obtained.

More reated Questions:

Penta-1,3-diene is more stable than penta-1,4 -diene. Why?

Phenoxide ion is more stable than an alkaoxide. why?

Why does aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution dissolve carboxylic acids but not phenol though they are also acidic ?

Why enol form of Beta Dicarbonyl compound more stable than those of monocarbonyl compounds?

Why enol form of phenol is more stable than its keto isomers?

Reactivity order of Pyrrole, Furan and Thiophene towards Electrophilic substitution :

Phenyl group is known to extract negative inductive effect, but each phenyl ring in biphenyl is more reactive than benzene towards Electrophilic substation. Why?

Chloroform is more acidic than fluoroform why?

Fluorine is more electronegative than chlorine even then, p-flurobenzoic acid is weaker acid than p-chlorobenzoic acid explain ? 

Trifluoroethyl carbocation is less stable than trifluromethyl carbocation why ?

Why is the Tropylium carbocation less stable than the tricyclopropylmethyl carbocation?

Arrange the following groups in order of their increasing tendency for nucleophilic addition reactions -COO-, -COOH, -COOCH3, -COCH3, -CHO, -COCI, -CONH2. Justify your answer.

The tendency, for nucleophilic additions of a carbonyl group is increased with increasing partial positive charge on the carbonyl carbon atom, which is maximum in -COCl and minimum in -COO-. Thus, the required order is:

      "-COCI > -CHO > -COCH₃ > -COOCH₃ > -CONH₂ > -COOH > -COO-"

More reated Questions:

Penta-1,3-diene is more stable than penta-1,4 -diene. Why?

Phenoxide ion is more stable than an alkaoxide. why?

Why does aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution dissolve carboxylic acids but not phenol though they are also acidic ?

Why enol form of Beta Dicarbonyl compound more stable than those of monocarbonyl compounds?

Why enol form of phenol is more stable than its keto isomers?

Reactivity order of Pyrrole, Furan and Thiophene towards Electrophilic substitution :

Phenyl group is known to extract negative inductive effect, but each phenyl ring in biphenyl is more reactive than benzene towards Electrophilic substation. Why?

Chloroform is more acidic than fluoroform why?

Fluorine is more electronegative than chlorine even then, p-flurobenzoic acid is weaker acid than p-chlorobenzoic acid explain ? 

Trifluoroethyl carbocation is less stable than trifluromethyl carbocation why ?

Why is the Tropylium carbocation less stable than the tricyclopropylmethyl carbocation?

Prpare Benzilic acid (1-hydroxyl-1,1-diphenylethanoic acid) from either cis or trans stilbene.

First Convert stilbene into vicinal alcohol by oxidation with cold KMnO4 and on acidification gives Benzilic which undergoes rearrangment to form Benzilic acid

More reated Questions:

Penta-1,3-diene is more stable than penta-1,4 -diene. Why?

Phenoxide ion is more stable than an alkaoxide. why?

Why does aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution dissolve carboxylic acids but not phenol though they are also acidic ?

Why enol form of Beta Dicarbonyl compound more stable than those of monocarbonyl compounds?

Why enol form of phenol is more stable than its keto isomers?

Reactivity order of Pyrrole, Furan and Thiophene towards Electrophilic substitution :

Phenyl group is known to extract negative inductive effect, but each phenyl ring in biphenyl is more reactive than benzene towards Electrophilic substation. Why?

Chloroform is more acidic than fluoroform why?

Fluorine is more electronegative than chlorine even then, p-flurobenzoic acid is weaker acid than p-chlorobenzoic acid explain ? 

Trifluoroethyl carbocation is less stable than trifluromethyl carbocation why ?

Why is the Tropylium carbocation less stable than the tricyclopropylmethyl carbocation?

50 Cm3 of 0.04 M K2Cr2O7 in acidic medium oxidized a sample of H2S gas to Sulphur . The volume of 0.03 M KMnO4 required to Oxidize the same amount of H2S gas to Sulphur, in acidic medium is.

Related Questions:

Calculate the moles of KMnO4 required to reacting with 180 gm of Oxalic acid (H2C2O4). Also calculate the volume of CO2 at STP produce in the reaction? (K=39, Mn=55, Of=16)

Calculate the weight of K2Cr2O7 which reacts with KI to liberate 254 gm of I2 ?.(Cr=51.9961, I=127)

Calculate volume of 0.05 M KMnO4 required to react with 50 ml of 0.1M H2S in acidic medium , given H2S oxidized to SO2?.

Calculate the mass of Fe3O4 required to react completely with 25 ml of 0.3 M K2Cr2O7?.

Calculate the concentration of H2O2 if 20 ml H2O2 Solution react with 10 ml of 2M KMnO4 in acidic medium ?

Calculate the moles of KMnO4 required for Oxidation of 1.25 moles Cu2S.

Calculate the moles of KCl which required to produce 10 ml of Cl2 when reacted with KClO3 ?

Calculate the Molarity of H2O2 if 11.2 ml H2O2 require 30 ml of 0.5 M K2Cr2O7 for its Oxidation . also calculate the volume of strength of H2O2.

696 gm of Fe2O3 and FeO reacts completely with 158 gm of KMnO4 in acidic medium . Calculate the composition of mixture.

829 gm of K2Cr2O7 and H2C2O4 reacts completely with 7/3 moles of K2Cr2O7 . (1) Calculate the moles of each in mixture. (2) Calculate the moles of NaOH required to react with above mixture.

50ml of KMnO4 is mixed with excess of KI the I2 liberated require 30 ml of 0.1M Na2S2O3 solution calculate the Molarity of KMnO4 solution