Provides comprehensive coverage of the types of reductions undergone by the various classes of organic chemistry. Discusses reductions according to what bond or functional group is reduced by different reagents. Gives special attention to selective reductions that are suitable for the reduction of one particular type of bond or function without affecting other bonds or functions present in the same molecule. Special emphasis is placed on enantioselective and diastereoselective reductions effected both by chiral reagents and by microorganisms. Reducing agents are correlated with both the starting compounds and the products of reduction. Includes discussions of methods, mechanisms, stereochemistry, and scopes of reducing agents. Selected laboratory procedures demonstrate the main reduction techniques. Correlation tables and thorough author and subject indexes make this book easy to use.

Table of Contents:
Preface to the First Edition; Preface to the Second Edition; Introduction; Safety First; Abbreviations and Proprietary Names; CATEGORIES OF REDUCTIONS; Catalytic Hydrogenation; Reduction with Hydrides and Complex Hydrides; Electroreduction and Reductions with Metals; Reductions with Metal Compounds; Reductions with Nonmetal Compounds; REDUCTION OF SPECIFIC TYPES OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; Reduction of Hydrocarbons and Aromatic Heterocycles; Reduction of Halogen Derivatives of Hydrocarbons and Basic Heterocycles; Reduction of Nitro, Nitroso, Diazo, and Azido Derivatives of Hydrocarbons and Basic Heterocycles; Reduction of Sulfur Compounds (Except Sulfur Derivatives of Aldehydes, Ketones, and Acids); Reduction of Amines and Their Derivatives and of Phosphorus Compounds; Reduction of Aldehydes and Their Derivatives; Reduction of Ketones and Their Derivatives; Reduction of Carboxylic Acids; Reduction of Acyl Chlorides and Acid Anhydrides; Reduction of Nitriles; Reduction of Organometallic Compounds; CORRELATION TABLES; Reduction of Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkadienes, and Alkynes; Reduction of Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Reduction of Heterocyclic Aromatic Compounds; Reduction of Halogen Compounds; Reduction of Nitro Compounds; Reduction of Nitroso, Diazonium and Azido Compounds; Reduction of Alcohols and Phenols; Reduction of Ethers; Reduction of Epoxides, Peroxides, and Ozonides; Reduction of Sulfur Compounds (Except Sulfur Derivatives of Aldehydes, Ketones, and Acids); Reduction of Amines and Their Derivatives; Reduction of Phosphorus Compounds; Reduction of Aldehydes; Reduction of Derivatives of Aldehydes; Reduction of Ketones; Reduction of Substitution Derivatives of Ketones; Reduction of Hydroxy Ketones, Diketones, and Quinones; Reduction of Ketals, Thioketals, Ketimines, Ketoximes, and Hydrazones; Reduction of Carboxylic Acids; Reduction of Derivatives of Carboxylic Acids; Reduction of Acyl Chlorides and Acid Anhydrides; Reduction of Esters of Carboxylic Acids; Reduction of Esters of Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids; Reduction of Substitution Derivatives of Esters; Reduction of Functionalized Esters; Reduction of Amides, Lactams, and Imides; Reduction of Amidines, Thioamides, Imidoyl Chlorides and Hydrazides; Reduction of Nitriles; Catalytic Hydrogenation with Hydrogen Generated from Sodium Borohydride; Catalytic Hydrogenation Under Elevated Pressure; Preparation of Palladium Catalyst; Preparation of the Lindlar Catalyst; Reduction with Raney Nickel; Desulfurization with Raney Nickel; Preparation of Nickel Catalyst; Catalytic Transfer of Hydrogen; Homogeneous Hydrogenation; Preparation of Alane (Aluminum Hydride); Preparation of Lithium Tris(tert-butoxy)aluminum Hydride; Analysis of Hydrides and Complex Hydrides; Reduction with Lithium Triethoxylaluminum Hydride; Reduction with Lithium Tris-tert-butoxyaluminum Hydride; Reduction with Lithium Aluminum Hydride and Diethylamine; Reduction with Lithium (1,1#'-Binaphthyl-2,2#'-dioxy)ethoxyaluminum Hydride; Reduction with Alane (Aluminum Hydride) In Situ; Reduction with Diisobutylalane; Reduction with Borane; Reduction with Borane In Situ; Reduction with Thexylchloroborane-Dimethyl Sulfide; Reduction with Sodium Borohydride; Reduction with Zinc Borohydride; Reduction with Sodium Cyanoborohydride; Reduction with Triethylsilane; Reduction with Zinc Borohydride; Reduction with Triethylsilane; Reduction with Stannanes; Electrolytic Reduction; Reduction with Sodium(Birch Reduction) Reduction with Sodium; Reduction with Sodium Naphthalene; Reduction with Sodium Amalgam; Reduction with Nickel-Aluminum Alloy; Reduction with Zinc (Clemmensen Reduction); Reduction with Zinc in Alkaline Solution; Reduction with Zinc and Sodium Iodide; Reduction with Iron; Reduction with Tin; Reduction with Stannous Chloride; Reduction with Chromous Chloride; Reduction with Vanadous Chloride; Reduction with Hydriodic Acid; Reduction with Sulfur Dioxide; Reduciton with Sodium Sulfite; Reduciton with Sodium Hydrosulfite (Dithionite); Reduction with Sodium dithionite in the Presence of a Phase-Transfer Catalyst; Reduction with Hydrazine; Reduction with Hypophosphorous Acid; Reduction with Ammonium Hypophosphite; Reduction with Trialkyl Phosphites; Reduction with Methyltrichlorosilane and Sodium Iodie; Reduction with Alcohols; Reductive Amination (Leuckart Reaction); Reductions with 1,4-dihydropyridine Derivatives; Biochemical Reduction; Enantioselective Reduction with Baker's Yeast; Microbial Reductions