The reduction of aldehydes and ketones to alkanes. Condensation of the carbonyl compound with hydrazine forms the hydrazone, and treatment with base induces the reduction of the carbon coupled with oxidation of the hydrazine to gaseous nitrogen, to yield the corresponding alkane.
The Clemmensen Reduction can effect a similar conversion under strongly acidic conditions, and is useful if the starting material is base-labile.
Mechanism
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