Ar CH 3 Ar CH 2 Cl Ar CHCl 2 Ar CCl 3
[ O ]
[ H ]
[O]
[ H ]
[ O ]
[ H ]
- When an organic compound is reduced the reducing agent must be oxidized.
When an organic compound is oxidized the oxidizing agent must be reduced.
- The oxidizing and reducing agents are often inorganic compounds.
12.3 ALCOHOLS BY REDUCTION OF CARBONYL COMPOUNDS
- Primary and secondary alcohols can be synthesized by the reduction of a variety
of compounds that contain the carbonyl group.
R COH [ H ]
O
R CH 2 OH
Carboxylic acid 1 o Alcohol
R C OR' [ H ] +
O
R CH 2 OH
Ester 1 oAlcohol
R'OH
R CH [ H ]
O
R CH 2 OH
Aldehyde 1 o Alcohol
R [ H ]
C
O
CH
OH
R' R
Ketone 2 oAlcohol
R'
- Reduction of carboxylic acids are the most difficult, but they can be accomplished
with the powerful reducing agent lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH 4 ,
abbreviated LAH).
