Abstract
Possibility of two phase reduction of carbonyl compounds to the corresponding alcohols was studied. Thus the 0.5 M ether solutions of the representative carbonyl compounds were treated with alkaline stabilized sodium borohydride aqueous solution at room temperature. Butyraldehyde was reduced rapidly within one hr., whereas other aldehydes tested; heptaldehyde, benzaldehyde, and 1-naphthaldehyde were reduced in 6-12 hr. 2-Heptanone was reduced much slowly; 87% in 48 hr., however, acetophenone was reduced moderately; 92% in 12 hr. and cycloalkanones were reduced rapidly (cyclohexanone in 0.5 hr., and cyclopentanone in 3-6 hr.).