Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Part 1

Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced to hydrocarbons by the action (i) of amalgamated zinc and concentrated hydrochloric acid (Clemmensen reduction), or (b) of hydrazine (NH2NH2) and a strong base like NaOH,KOH or potassium tert-butoxide in a high-boiling alcohol like ethylene glycol or triethylene glycol (Wolf-Kishner reduction )−OH group and alkene are acid - sensitive groups so clemmensen reduction can not be used. Acid sensitive substrate should be reacted in the Wolf-Kishner reduction which utilise strongly basic conditions.