Reduction of C X to CH_XH by Dissolving Metals and Related Methods

Abstract

Reduction of C. X double bonds to CH-XH is an important reaction in organic synthesis, which can be achieved by a large number of different methods. Reduction by electron transfer using dissolving metals is a very old but highly useful method, and may give products with complementary stereochemistry, compared with alternative and nowadays possibly more popular methods, such as hydride reduction or transfer hydrogenations. Reductive electron transfer of carbonyl groups, in particular, is also a very versatile method to initiate inter- and intramolecular coupling of the initially formed ketyl radical, leading to complex molecular frameworks. This chapter will survey the development of syntheti..