Affects of different boron alkoxides on reduction of various carbonyl groups

Primary and secondary alcohols can be synthesized by the reduction of the corresponding carbonyl compounds by a great variety of reagents. Usually difficult to reduct a group in the molecule without effecting the other reducible groups. Therefore the selectivity of the reducing agents is important. In this study, the effects of some boron alkoxides on reduction of various aldehydes and ketones using MPV reduction mechanism were examined. For this purpose, reduction reactions of 2-pentanone, 2-butanone, capronaldehyde, valeraldehyde, cyclopentanone, benzaldehyde, 2-chloro benzaldehyde and acetophenone in the presence of boron tri-isopropoxide; reduction reactions of benzaldehyde and valeraldehyde in the presence of boron tri-secondary butoxide were studied. The alcohols which is the production of the reduction reactions were analysed using Gaseous Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy. It was observed that, in the presence of boron alkoxides aliphatic carbonyl compounds were reduced but aromatic compounds was not reduced.. KEY WORDS : Boron alkoxides, MPV Reduction, Reduction of carbonyl compounds