A superior process for reduction a range of 17 aliphatic and aromatic functional groups with 100% conversion and selectivity is achieved with 5% Ni loaded on SiO2 support as catalyst and NaBH4, by in situ generation of Ni-boride in methanol, in short reaction duration (5 min) at low temperature (approximate to 0 degrees C). Seventeen, substituted aromatics with functional groups C=O, C-X, and C=C were converted to their respective products with 100% conversion and 100% selectivity in 5 min. Phenol is transformed to cyclohexanol with 100% selectivity, but with 20% conversion efficiency. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.