Selective Reduction of Carbonyl Compounds with B-Alkoxydiisopinocampheylborane

Reaction of carbonyl compounds with B-alkoxydiisopinocampheylborane (Ipc2BOR, R=H, Et, i-Pr, t-Bu) was investigated in detail in order to establish their usefulness as selective reducing agents. The reagents were extremely mild and reduced only aldehydes effectively under mild conditions. The reagents also reduced α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to the corresponding allylic alcohols without any detectable 1,4-reduction. Furthermore, aldehydes can be reduced in the presence of epoxides and acid chlorides. Consequently, the selective reduction of aldehyde groups in the presence of keto and all other functional groups has been realized with these reagents.