D,L-1,2,4-butanetriol can be made in two different ways; the first way is commercial synthesis through reduction of esterified D,L-malic acid with sodium borohydride, NaBH4, while the second way involves microbes. The latter method was the focus of the journal article. Nitration of racemic D,L-1,2,4-butanetriol results in D,L-1,2,4-butanetriol trinitrate, a compound that is the energetic equivalent of nitroglycerin, but is less shock sensitive, more thermally stable, and less volatile. One of the final steps in the synthesis of D, L-1,2,4-butanetriol via microbes is the reduction of a racemic mixture of D,L-3,4-dihydroxybutanal (aldehyde), to the final alcohol product, as seen in the reaction below. The catalyst for the reaction is dehydrogenase from E. coli.

Methyl 3-, 6- and 13-oxo tetradecanoates went through reduction with NaBH4 in the presence of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-Dglucofuranose (DIPGH) and menthol together with isovaleric and pivalic acids in THF solution. This work signifies the importance of positional
effect. The position of lower steric hinderance and higher enantiomeric excess and asymmetric reduction yield were noted down, namely the prochiral 13-keto isomer structures.
With this asymmetric reduction at normal atmospheric pressure together with inexpensive auxiliaries make it competitive with other reduction methods and is needed to assess the need in the market.