Bis(diethylamino)aluminum hydride was utilized in a systematic study of the approximate rates and stoichiometry of the reaction of excess reagent with 55 selected organic compounds containing representative functional groups under standardized conditions (THF, $0^{circ}C$, reagent to compound=4 : 1) in order to define the characteristics of the reagent for selective reductions. The reducing action of BEAH was also compared with that of the parent aluminum hydride. The reducing action of the reagent is quite similar to that of aluminum hydride, but the reducing power is much weaker. Aldehydes and ketones were readily reduced in 1-3 h to the corresponding alcohols. However, unexpectedly, a ready involvement of the double bond in cinnamaldehyde was realized to afford hydrocinnamyl alcohol. The introduction of diethylamino group to the parent aluminum hydride appears not to be appreciably influential in stereoselectivity on the reduction of cyclic ketones. Both p-benzoquinone and anthraquinone utilized 2 equiv of hydride readily without evolution of hydrogen, proceeded cleanly to the 1,4-reduction products. Carboxylic acids and acid chlorides underwent reduction to alcohols slowly, whereas cyclic anhydrides utilized only 2 equiv of hydride slowly to the corresponding hydroxylacids. Especially, benzoic acid with a limiting amount of hydride was reduced to benzaldehyde in a yield of 80%. Esters and lactones were also readily reduced to alcohols. Epoxides examined all reacted slowly to give the ring-opened products. Primary and tertiary amides utilized 1 equiv of hydride fast and further hydride utilization was quite slow. The examination for possibility of achieving a partial reduction to aldehydes was also performed. Among them, benzamide and N,N-dimethylbenzamide gave ca, 90% yields of benzaldehyde. Both the nitriles examined were also slowly reduced to the amines. Unexpectedly, both aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds proved to be relatively reactive to the reagent. On the other hand, azo- and azoxybenzenes were quite inert to BEAH. Cyclohexanone oxime liberated 1 equiv of hydrogen and utilized 1 equiv of hydride for reduction, corresponding to N-hydroxycyclohexylamine. Pyridine ring compounds were also slowly attacked. Disulfides were readily reduced with hydrogen evolution to the thiols, and dimethyl sulfoxide and diphenyl sulfone were also rapidly reduced to the sulfides.