The Clemmensen reduction is an organic reaction used to reduce an aldehyde or ketone to an alkane using amalgamated zinc and hydrochloric acid. Price of 374791-02-3 The mechanism for the Clemmensen reduction is not yet fully understood and there are two popular proposals. 2,5-Dihydroxyterephthalic acid site The “Carbanionic mechanism”, where the zinc attacks the protonated carbonyl directly, and the “Carbenoid mechanism”, which is a radical process and the reduction happens on the surface of the zinc metal. [1][2][3]
Mechanism
References:
| 1. |
Clemmensen, E. Ber. Dtsch. Chem. Ges. 1913, 46, 1837–1843.
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| 2. |
Clemmensen, E. Ber. Dtsch. Chem. Ges. 1914, 47, 51–63.
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| 3. |
Clemmensen, E. Ber. Dtsch. Chem. Ges. 1914, 47, 681–687.
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