Stereochemistry of lithium trimethoxyaluminohydride reduction of cyclic ketones. A comparison of its stereochemical character with that of lithium aluminum hydride
significant directive effect of the 2-axial hydroxy group appeared in the LiAlH4, NaBH4, and Zn(BH4)2 reduction of cyclohexanone, while the 3-axial hydroxy group exhibited a steric hindrance. The distance between the carbonyl carbon and the hydroxy group which interacts with the hydride reagent is mainly responsible for such a difference. In the reduction of Na[B(OAc)3H], both the 2- and 3-axial hydroxycyclohexanones