Hydrogenation of pyridyl and quinolyl compounds 2-substituted with a carbonyl group (1a–c and 2b, c) using PtO2 and 1 equiv. of HCl (conditions A) provides clean and total formation of the desired amino alcohol (hydrogenation of the heterocyclic ring and of the carbonyl) while under conditions B1 and/or B2 (concentrated HCl or pure CF3CO2H) the heterocyclic ring remains untouched and other aromatic parts are hydrogenated providing complex ...