Stereoselective reduction of carbonyl compounds

A process for the stereoselective reduction via a Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) reaction, of a carbonyl compound to the corresponding alcohol. A preferred starting carbonyl compound is a ketone compound wherein the carbonyl carbon is prochiral. The starting carbonyl compound is contacted with an MPV mediator such as aluminum isopropoxide. The reaction is conducted under mild conditions, e.g. temperatures of about 50 DEG C or less, for less than four hours, and is capable of producing an excess (about 90% to about 97% or more) of a desired optically active chiral alcohol. The mild reaction conditions preserve the optical orientation of other asymmetric centers in the carbonyl compound starting material.