Abstract KHFe (CO) 4 is an efficient reagent for the reduction of electron-deficient ketones (trifluoroacetophenone) and for the selective mono-reduction of the keto group of α- ketocarbonyl compounds such as benzil, methyl benzoylformate, N-methylisatine and methyl pyruvate. The phosphite substituted derivative K [HFe (CO) 3 {P (OMe) 3}] is also an efficient reagent for the reduction of trifluoroacetophenone.
