Lithium aluminum hydride reduces carboxylic acids to alcohols.
![carboxylic-acids-reduction acidos-carboxilicos-reduccion](/images/stories/organica-ii/acidos-carboxilicos/reduccion/acidos-carboxilicos-reduccion-01.png)
A possible mechanism for this reduction is the following:
Step 1. Deprotonation of the carboxylic acid
![carboxylic-acids-reduction acidos-carboxilicos-reduccion](/images/stories/organica-ii/acidos-carboxilicos/reduccion/acidos-carboxilicos-reduccion-02.png)
Stage 2. Nucleophilic attack of the hydride
![carboxylic-acids-reduction acidos-carboxilicos-reduccion](/images/stories/organica-ii/acidos-carboxilicos/reduccion/acidos-carboxilicos-reduccion-04.png)
Stage 3. Displacement of oxygen with the hydride ion
![carboxylic-acids-reduction acidos-carboxilicos-reduccion](/images/stories/organica-ii/acidos-carboxilicos/reduccion/acidos-carboxilicos-reduccion-04.png)
Stage 4. Hydrolysis
![carboxylic-acids-reduction acidos-carboxilicos-reduccion](/images/stories/organica-ii/acidos-carboxilicos/reduccion/acidos-carboxilicos-reduccion-05.png)