KHFe(CO)(4) is an efficient reagent for the reduction of electron-deficient ketones (trifluoroacetophenone) and for the selective mono-reduction of the keto group of alpha-ketocarbonyl compounds such as benzil, methyl benzoylformate, N-methylisatine and methyl pyruvate. The phosphite substituted derivative K[HFe(CO)(3){P(OMe)(3)}] is also an efficient reagent for the reduction of trifluoroacetophenone.