Lithium triethylborohydride unsaturated carbonyl compounds

Reduction of a, -unsaturated carbonyl compounds (6, 491 492). The final paper has now been published. In general, )3-5ubstituted cyclohexenones undergo exclusive 1,4-reduction with either Selectride. Acyclic enones generally undergo 1,2-reduction to allylic alcohols. The Selectrides are particularly useful for 1,4-reduction of enoates. Super-Hydride (lithium triethylborohydride) is less useful for this purpose. Unfortunately L-Selectride reduces o./S-acetylenic esters only to propargylic alcohols. 

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