Based on [~ Y]~~ D-5. 0 5~(neat, I= l)," Based on [~~]~~~-7. 0 6" exploring the effect of various electron-withdrawing substituents, we discovered that the a-keto esters are reduced to the corresponding a-hydroxy esters rapidly by Alpine-Borane. 2a The first compound of this class we studied was ethyl pyruvate (2, R= C, H,; eq 1). The compound underwent a rapid reduction