The reaction is run on a relatively large scale for easy characterization using our 60MHz NMR equipment. Acetophenone was reduced using sodium borohydride to produce a racemic mixture of the secondary alcohol. Students added acetophenone and methanol to a flask which was then cooled in an ice bath. Sodium borohydride was added in portions over 5 minutes. The ice bath was then removed, and the flask was fitted with a condenser and allowed to stir for 1 hour (Scheme 1).