The active cerium metal (Ce^*) prepared by the reduction of anhydrous CeCl~3 with LiNp (Lithium Naphthalide) shows higher reactivity in its action with carbonyl compounds than Nd^* obtained by the same reduction method. The reaction of Ce^* with carbonyl compounds, followed by hydrolysis, produces the corresponding alcohols, pinacols and alkenes depending not only on the reaction time and temperature but also on the nature of the carbonyl compounds and the molar ratio of the Ce^*:RCOR'. Interestingly, the effect of the different molar ratio of CeCl~3:LiNp also shows different reactivity and selectivity oof low valent Ce species. In addition, the reaction of ketones with halohydrocarbon promoted by active cerium metal was also studied.

Key words: HALOHYDROCARBON, SELECTIVITY, ALCOHOL, ALKENE, CARBONYL COMPOUNDS