GENERAL METHOD: Sodium borohydride (0.28 g, 7.5 mmol) was added batchwise to a methanol (10 mL) solution of 2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde (5 mmol) cooled in an ice bath over a period of 20 minutes. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 min. Excess sodium borohydride was quenched by addition of ice. Subsequently, the reaction mixture was concentrated and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed twice with deionized water. The organic phase was dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated to give 2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl alcohol in 96% yield as a colorless oil. The spectral data of the resulting compound were in agreement with standard samples from commercial sources.
