Reduction of carbon–heteroatom double and triple bonds

Abstract

This chapter explores the reduction of carbon–heteroatom double and triple bonds. There are many functional groups based on multiple bonds between carbon and either oxygen or nitrogen. The chapter demonstrates some of the corresponding reduction reactions of these functional groups. It begins by looking at the reduction of carbon–nitrogen π-bonds. Nitriles contain a strong triple bond between carbon and nitrogen. In terms of reactivity, nitriles are susceptible to nucleophilic attack and therefore reduction of these groups is easily effected by 'hydride' reducing agents. The chapter then considers the reduction of carbon–oxygen π-bonds. The reduction of aldehydes to primary alcohols and ketones to secondary alcohols is normally easy to accomplish using sodium borohydride or lithium aluminium hydride.