In clemmensen Reduction, carbonyl compound is treated with

Options

A. Zinc amalgam+ HCl
B. Sodium amalgam+ HCI
C. Zinc amalgam+ nitric acid
D. Sodium amalgam+ `HNO_(3)`

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding Clemmensen Reduction**: Clemmensen reduction is a chemical reaction used to convert carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) into alkanes. This process involves the reduction of the carbonyl group (C=O) to a methylene group (–CH2–).

2. **Reactants Required**: In Clemmensen reduction, the carbonyl compound is treated with zinc amalgam (Zn-Hg) in the presence of hydrochloric acid (HCl). The zinc amalgam acts as the reducing agent.

3. **Reaction Mechanism**:
- The carbonyl compound can be represented as R1C(=O)R2, where R1 and R2 are hydrocarbon groups.
- When zinc amalgam is added, zinc (Zn) gets oxidized to Zn²⁺, losing two electrons in the process.
- These electrons are transferred to the carbonyl carbon, reducing the carbonyl group to a methylene group.
- The oxygen atom from the carbonyl group is then removed as water (H2O) in the presence of H⁺ ions from HCl.

4. **Final Product Formation**: The final product of the Clemmensen reduction is an alkane, which can be represented as R1CH2R2. This indicates that the carbonyl group has been successfully reduced to a methylene group.

5. **Conclusion**: Thus, in Clemmensen reduction, the carbonyl compound is treated with zinc amalgam and hydrochloric acid, resulting in the formation of an alkane.

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