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1996 reduction, hydrogenation reduction, hydrogenation O 0220 -065Efficient Catalytic Reduction of Ketones with Formic Acid and Ruthenium Complexes.-Formic acid as a H source reduces aldehydes and ketones such as (I) to alcohols using the Ru-complex shown as catalyst. Its phenyl ring-substituted derivatives are also effective. Alkenes are not reactive; however, double bonds conjugated to a carbonyl group are selectively reduced under the reaction conditions. Aliphatic aldehydes lead to no selective reaction. Using formic acid in excess the reaction is accelerated and the corresponding formate esters are formed as sole products. -(MENASHE, N.; SALANT, E.; SHVO, Y.; J.