Home > Community > How does sodium metal in ethyl alcohol act as a reducing agent for aldehydes and ketones?
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+ Ketones
+ Aldehydes
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+ Organic chemistry
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Malcolm Sargeant

How does sodium metal in ethyl alcohol act as a reducing agent for aldehydes and ketones?

Diana Smith  Follow

Sodium is a powerful reducing agent. It wants to donate an electron to things that are electron deficient.

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The mechanism of the reduction of aldehydes and ketones by sodium would be similar to that of the Bouveault-Blanc reduction. Ethanol is the source of the protons (at least early in the reaction). The dots in the reactions below signify radicals (unpaired electrons), which are represented to the best mchem and MathJax's ability (which is not great).

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