$NaBH_4$ with catalytic amounts of $MoCl_5$ can readily reduce a variety of carbonyl compounds such as aldehydes, ketones, acyloins, ${\alpha}$-diketones and conjugated enones to their corresponding alcohols in good to excellent yields. Reduction reac...
$NaBH_4$ with catalytic amounts of $MoCl_5$ can readily reduce a variety of carbonyl compounds such as aldehydes, ketones, acyloins, ${\alpha}$-diketones and conjugated enones to their corresponding alcohols in good to excellent yields. Reduction reactions were performed under aprotic condition in $CH_3CN$ at room temperature or reflux. In addition, the chemoselective reduction of aldehydes over ketones was accomplished successfully with this reducing system.