Efficient and Convenient Reduction of Organic Carbonyl Compounds to their Corresponding Alcohols by Zn(BH4)2/Charcoal in THF

Abstract

Zn(BH4)2 (0.5-1.5 mmol) in the presence of charcoal (1 mmol) reduces a variety of organic carbonyl compounds such as aldehydes, ketones, acyloins, α-diketones and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to their corresponding alcohols. Reduction reactions were carried out in THF at room temperature in high to excellent yields. The chemoselective reduction of aldehydes over ketones was successfully accomplished with this reducing system. In addition, regioselectivity and exclusive 1,2-reduction of conjugated carbonyl compounds to their corresponding allylic alcohols was also performed in in high to excellent yields with this reducing system.