Chapter 17: Aldehydes and Ketones. Nucleophilic Additionto C=O

Reduction to Hydrocarbons
(review of Chapter 12)

• Zn(Hg) in HCl reduced the C=O into-CH₂-

• NH₂NH₂ / KOH / ethylene glycol (a high boiling solvent) reduces the C=O into -CH₂-

• These reduction methods do not reduce C=C, C≡C or -CO₂H
• The choice of method should be made based on the tolerance of other functional groups to the acidic or basic reaction conditions.

© Dr. Ian Hunt, Department of Chemistry