Mild and convenient method for reduction of carbonyl compounds with the NaBH4/charcoal system in wet THF

Abstract

The NaBH4/C (charcoal) system reduces a variety of carbonyl compounds such as aldehydes, ketones, acyloins and α-diketones to their corresponding alcohols in high to excellent yields. Reduction reactions were carried out in wet THF at r.t. In addition, regioselective 1,2-reduction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones was achieved perfectly with this reducing system. By decreasing the amount of aprotic solvent, all reductions took place fast and efficiently under solid-gel condition. © 2006 Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung.