Alcohol formation: Reduction of carbonyl compounds using green chemistry

CHED 286

Lauren Ritchie, lritchie@siena.edu and Alicia B. Todaro, todaro@siena.edu. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Siena College, 515 Loudon Rd., Loudonville, NY 12211
Reactions to transform carbonyl compounds to alcohols have been explored. One method uses the Grignard reaction. The Grignard reagent was prepared in an ultrasound bath in 10 minutes. The use of ultrasound saves time and energy. Another green reaction used carrots to reduce carbonyl compounds to alcohols. Since carrots are available in high quantities, their use in this reaction is ideal. Use of potassium permanganate on solid supports and other green methods were used and compared to traditional methods of alcohol preparation. Alcohol products were characterized using carbon-13 NMR, proton NMR, IR spectra and TLC.