Triphenylphosphonium iodide, Ph3PHI, was found to be an efficient reagent for the dehalogenation of alpha-halo carbonyl compounds. alpha-Halo esters, which were difficult to be reduced with Me3SiCl/Nal reagent, was smoothly debrominated by Ph3PHI. Treatment of alpha-halocarbonyl compounds with Ph3PDI produced the corresponding alpha-deuterated compounds.