Reactions of Monosaccharides

The chemistry of monosaccharides is the chemistry of the component aldehydes, ketones, and alcohols that make up these molecules. One example of how the chemistry of carbohydrates is the same as the chemistry of ketones is in their reaction with NaBH₄.
Reduction to Alditols. Both ketoses and aldoses can be reduced with NaBH₄ to reduced forms, known as alditols. With ketoses, this often produces 2 diastereomeric alditols.