Regioselective and Chemoselective Reduction of α , β -Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds by NaBH 4 /Ba ( OAc ) 2 as a Reducing System

Abstract

α , β -unsaturated aldehydes and ketones are regioselectively reduced to the corresponding allylic alcohols with NaBH 4 /Ba ( OAc ) 2 system in CH 3 CN. This system is also efficient for the chemoselective reduction of enals in the presence of enones at room temperature.