Abstract. Regio-and stereoselective reductions of several diketones to afford enantiopure hydroxy ketones or diols were accomplished using isolated alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs). Results could be rationalised taking into account different (promiscuous) substrate-binding modes in the active site of the enzyme. Furthermore, interesting natural cyclic diketones were also reduced with high regio-and stereoselectivity.Some of the 1,2-and 1,3-diketones used in this study were reduced employing a low excess of the hydrogen donor (2-propanol) due to the quasi-irreversibility of these ADHcatalysed processes. Thus, using less quantity of cosubstrate, scale-up could be easily achieved.