Our interest in the selective reducing properties of cyanoborohydride coupled with the recent attention accorded the reduction of a,@-unsaturated systems1 prompts this report of the capability of cyanoborohydride for the facile and selective reduction of certain conjugated double bonds to the corresponding saturated derivatives. The reduction of alkenes conjugated with strong electronwithdrawing groups such as ester^,^ nitrile^,^ sulfonate ...