12.22: Aldehydes and Ketones to Alkanes: Wolff–Kishner Reduction

Wolff–Kishner reduction involves converting aldehydes and ketones to alkanes using hydrazine and a base. The reaction converts a carbonyl group to a methylene group. The method was independently discovered by N. Kishner in 1911 and L. Wolff in 1912. The reduction is carried out in high-boiling solvents such as ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol because heat is required to deprotonate the N–H proton in one of the reaction steps.                                                                                                                                

Wolff–Kishner reduction involves two key stages, including the formation of an imine derivative, hydrazone, through a series of steps and the loss of N₂. The mechanism involves multiple proton transfer reactions forming an N=N bond. The final steps include the transfer of a proton from nitrogen, a rearrangement reaction to form a carbanion with a subsequent loss of N₂, and a proton transfer to the carbanion to give the final product—alkane.