REACTION

• WHAT DO REDUCING AGENTS DO?

  reduce both aldehydes and ketones to alcohols in aqueous solutions
• EXAMPLE OF A REDUCING AGENT?

  NaBH4
• WHAT DOES NaBH4 GENERATE ALLOWING REDUCTION TO OCCUR?

  nucleophile (H-/ hydride ion)
• WHAT DOES A HYDRIDE ION DO?

  reduce C=O and not C=C
• WHY DOES A HYDRIDE ION NOT REDUCE C=C BOND?

  repelled by high electron density in C=C (attracted to slightly positive C on C=O)
• WHAT ARE ALDEHYDES REDUCED TO?

  primary alcohols
• WHAT ARE KETONES REDUCED TO?

  secondary alcohols
• WHAT TYPE OF REACTION IS REDUCTION OF ALDEHYDES AND KETONES?

  nucleophilic addition