RELATED: Wolff-Kishner
REAGENTS: Zn(Hg), HCl
Most Common Uses
- reduction of simple aldehydes to alkanes
- reduction of simple ketones to alkanes
The Clemmensen reduction is a good substitute for the Wolff-Kishner reduction when base-sensitive functional groups are present.
Reduction of Aldehydes
FGT: aldehyde ➛ alkane
TYPE: reduction
REGIOCHEM: none
STEREOCHEM: none
Reduction of Ketones
FGT: ketone ➛ alkane
TYPE: reduction
REGIOCHEM: none
STEREOCHEM: none
The Mechanism
The mechanism of the Clemmensen reduction is not well understood.