Aldehydes were chemoselectively reduced to primary alcohols by using HCOONH4 as the hydrogen donor through transfer hydrogenation catalyzed by benzo[h]quinoline pincer complexes RuCl(CNNPh)(PP) at substrate to catalyst molar ratios of 2000 to 20 000. This practical reaction performed with aldehydes of commercial-grade purity in a water/toluene biphasic system afforded alcohols without the formation of condensation or amination side products.
