KBH: an environment-friendly reagent for the selective reduction of aldehydes and ketones to alcohols

Selective reduction of aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding alcohols with KB 3 H 8 , an air- and moisture-stable, nontoxic, and easy-to-handle reagent, in water and THF has been explored under an air atmosphere for the first time. Control experiments illustrated the good selectivity of KB 3 H 8 over NaBH 4 for the reduction of 4-acetylbenzaldehyde and aromatic keto esters. Selective reduction of aldehydes and ketones to alcohols using KB 3 H 8 was achieved in water and THF.