Tritiide reduction

Aldehydes and ketones are unaffected by sodium cyanoborohydride in neutral solution, but they are readily reduced to the corresponding alcohol at pH = 3-4 by way of the protonated carbonyl group. By previous exchange of the hydrogens of the borohydride for deuterium or tritium, by reaction with D2O or tritiated water, an efficient and economical route is available for deuteride or tritiide reduction of aldehydes and ketones. 

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