Which of the following conversion can be carried out by Clemmensen reduction ?

Options

A. Benzaldehyde into benzyl alcohol
B. Cyclohexanone into cyclohexane
C. Benzoyl chloride into benzaldehyde
D. Benzophenone into diphenyl methane

Explanation

To determine which conversions can be carried out by Clemmensen reduction, we first need to understand what Clemmensen reduction is.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Clemmensen Reduction**:
- Clemmensen reduction is a method used to reduce carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) to their corresponding alkanes.
- This reaction is typically carried out using zinc amalgam (Zn/Hg) in the presence of hydrochloric acid (HCl).
- The key feature of this reduction is the complete removal of the carbonyl oxygen (C=O), resulting in the formation of an alkane.

2. **Analyzing the Options**:
- **Option A: Benzaldehyde to Benzyl Alcohol**:
- Benzaldehyde (C6H5CHO) contains a carbonyl group (C=O). When reduced to benzyl alcohol (C6H5CH2OH), the carbonyl oxygen is not removed; instead, it is converted to an alcohol (OH). Thus, this is not a Clemmensen reduction.

- **Option B: Cyclohexanone to Cyclohexane**:
- Cyclohexanone (C6H10O) has a carbonyl group. When reduced to cyclohexane (C6H12), the carbonyl oxygen is completely removed, and the carbon becomes saturated. This is a valid Clemmensen reduction.

- **Option C: Benzoyl Chloride to Benzaldehyde**:
- Benzoyl chloride (C6H5C(O)Cl) is converted to benzaldehyde (C6H5CHO). In this case, the carbonyl oxygen remains intact, as it is simply replacing the chlorine atom with a hydrogen atom. Therefore, this is not a Clemmensen reduction.

- **Option D: Benzophenone to Diphenylmethane**:
- Benzophenone (C6H5C(O)C6H5) has a carbonyl group. When reduced to diphenylmethane (C6H5-CH-CH6H5), the carbonyl oxygen is completely removed, resulting in a saturated compound. This is a valid Clemmensen reduction.

3. **Conclusion**:
- The conversions that can be carried out by Clemmensen reduction are:
- **Option B: Cyclohexanone to Cyclohexane**
- **Option D: Benzophenone to Diphenylmethane**

### Final Answer:
- **Correct Options**: B and D.