1,2-Diketones, camphorquinone and 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione, are converted to the corresponding $alpha-hydroxyketones$ in moderate to good yields by TiO2-catalyzed photochemical reactions in deoxygenated alcoholic media. The reduction yield for 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione is considerably increased by addition of water or triethylamine