Question

In Clemmensen Reduction carbonyl compound is treated with:

Options

• Zinc amalgam + HCl

• Sodium amalgam + HCl

• Zinc amalgam + nitric acid

• Sodium amalgam + HNO₃ 

Answer 1

Zinc amalgam + HCl

Explanation:

Clemmensen reduction is used to convert carbonyl group to \[\ce{CH2}\] group as follows

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\phantom{}\backslash\phantom{..................}\backslash\phantom{}\\
\phantom{.......}\ce{C = O ->[Zn(Hg) + HCl] CH2}\phantom{..}\\
\phantom{}/\phantom{..................}/\phantom{}
\end{array}\]

Zinc amalgam and \[\ce{HCl}\] act as reagent in this reaction.