Ruthenium(
The classical Wolff-Kishner reduction plays a key role in organic synthesis to convert carbonyl functionalities into methylene groups; however, it generally requires harsh reaction conditions and a strategy with wider applications demands further development. Herein, a ruthenium-catalyzed Wolff-Kishner type reduction of ketones is developed with 31 examples under mild conditions. This strategy tolerates aryl and alkyl ketones with reactive functional groups including halogens, hydroxyls, carboxylic acid, unsaturated functional groups, and so on. The corresponding methylene products were obtained in 32% to 95% yields while using water or methanol as solvents. This study involved multiple reactions and reactants, such as 4,4′-Methylenediphenol (cas: 620-92-8Name: 4,4′-Methylenediphenol).
4,4′-Methylenediphenol (cas: 620-92-8) belongs to alcohols. A strong base can deprotonate an alcohol to yield an alkoxide ion (R―O−). For example, sodamide (NaNH2), a very strong base, abstracts the hydrogen atom of an alcohol. A multistep synthesis may use Grignard-like reactions to form an alcohol with the desired carbon structure, followed by reactions to convert the hydroxyl group of the alcohol to the desired functionality.Name: 4,4′-Methylenediphenol
Referemce:
Alcohol – Wikipedia,
Alcohols – Chemistry LibreTexts