Palladium-catalyzed reduction of ketones with nBu2SnH2

Whereas the Pd(PPh3)4-catalyzed reduction of ketones with nBu3SnH does not proceed at all, the use of nBu2SnH2, instead of nBu3SnH, leads to the efficient reduction of a variety of ketones in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(PPh3)4 under mild conditions, providing the corresponding alcohols in good yields. The stereoselectivity in the reduction of cyclic ketones is also investigated by using this Pd(PPh3)4/nBu2SnH2 reduction system.