“Addition of Hydrogen atom to any compound or

removal of oxygen atom from any compound is called

reduction.”

Aldehydes and ketones are most readily reduced with

hydride reagents.
The reducing agents LiAlH4 and NaBH4 act as a source of
5- Metal H- (hydride ion).

hydride Overall 2 H atoms are added across the C=O to give H-C-
O-H.
reduction Hydride reacts with the carbonyl group, C=O, in
aldehydes or ketones to give alcohols.
The substituents on the carbonyl dictate the nature of
the product alcohol.
Reduction of  methanal (formaldehyde) gives methanol.
Reduction of other aldehydes gives primary alcohols.
Reduction of ketones gives secondary alcohols.
LiAlH4
NaBH4
6- Wolff Kishner Reduction
The Wolff-Kishner reduction is an organic reaction used to convert an aldehyde or ketone to an
alkane using hydrazine, base, and thermal conditions.

The mechanism begins with the attack of hydrazine of the aldehyde or ketone for form an imine.
Proton transfer steps then result in the formation of a N=N bond.
Deprotonation of the nitrogen and a rearrangement reaction result in the formation of a
carbanion and the release of nitrogen gas.
The carbanion then picks up a proton from water to regenerate the base catalyst and provides
the final alkane product.
Mechanism