A Microwave-Assisted Reduction of Cyclohexanone Using Solid-State-Supported Sodium Borohydride

We report a microwave-assisted reduction of cyclohexanone by sodium borohydride that is supported on SiO 2 . The reaction was completed in less than 3 minutes. Workup and analysis by GC–MS, IR, and 1 H NMR was possible in a two and half-hour laboratory session. This reduction was used successfully in a second-year organic chemistry laboratory. Students were exposed to a green chemistry reaction using solid-state-supported reactants in the absence of solvent.