Reduction of aldehydes and ketones to primary and secondary alcohols occurs by nucleophilic addition.
The carbonyl group is susceptible to attack by nucleophiles.
Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced to primary and secondary alcohols respectively.
Sodium tetrahydridoborate NaBH4 can be used as the reducing agent or LiAlH4 - lithium aluminium hydride - in dry ether.
The hydride ion H- acts as the nucleophile and attacks the electron-deficient carbon atom in the C=O group.
The lone pair forms a dative covalent bond with the carbon atom whilst the C=O bond breaks to form a negatively charged intermediate.
The intermediate donates a pair of electrons to the hydrogen atom of a water molecule forming a hydroxide ion.
The carbonyl group is susceptible to attack by nucleophiles.
Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced to primary and secondary alcohols respectively.
Sodium tetrahydridoborate NaBH4 can be used as the reducing agent or LiAlH4 - lithium aluminium hydride - in dry ether.
The hydride ion H- acts as the nucleophile and attacks the electron-deficient carbon atom in the C=O group.
The lone pair forms a dative covalent bond with the carbon atom whilst the C=O bond breaks to form a negatively charged intermediate.
The intermediate donates a pair of electrons to the hydrogen atom of a water molecule forming a hydroxide ion.