The Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) reaction allowed the successful reduction of various aldehydes, and ketones by using an MgAlOx mixed oxide previously obtained from a layered double hydroxide as catalyst and 2-propanol as hydrogen donor. The reaction exhibited good yield and selectivity towards the corresponding alcohol in all cases. The results were quite consistent with a mechanism involving adsorption of the reactants on an acid-base pair in the catalyst. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.