Describe methods for the preparation of hydrocarbon by the reduction of aldehyde.

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Solution

The carbonyl group of aldehydes ( and ketones) is reduced to methylene group by following methods.
1) Clemmensen reduction:
Aldehyde (or ketone) that is not acid sensitive is heated with zinc amalgam and conc. HCl to obtain hydrocarbon.
$C H_{3} - C H O + 4 [H] Zn Hg/ conc HCl - --------- \to Δ C H_{3} - C H_{3} + H_{2} O$

2) Wolff-Kishner reduction:
Aldehyde (or ketone) that is not base sensitive is treated with hydrazine followed by heating with KOH/ ethylene glycol to obtain hydrocarbon.
$C H_{3} - C H O + 4 [H] hydrazine - -------------- \to KOH/ ethylene glycol, Δ C H_{3} - C H_{3} + H_{2} O + N_{2}$

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