There is provided the use as reducing agents of alpha-hydroxycarbonylcompounds capable of forming cyclic dimers. There is also providedcorresponding methods of reducing reducible compounds, particularly reduction-activated prodrugs . Examples of the alpha-hydroxycarbonyl compounds used aredihydroxyacetone, glycolaldehyde , glyceraldehyde, erythrose, xylulose,erythrulose or 3-hydroxy-2-butanone.
