A series of lithium alkoxymagnesium hydrides [LiMgH,(OR)] were prepared and allowed to reduce 4-tertbutylcyclohexanone (I), 3, 3, 5-trimethylcyclohexanone(II), 2- methylcyclohexanone (III), and camphor (IV). It was found that very bulky secondary cyclic alkoxy groups such as 2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-and 2, 2, 6, 6-tetrabenzylcyclohexoxy were very stereoselective in the reduction of these ketones. For example, LiMgHz (2, 2, 6, 6-Me4-c- ...
