Wolff-Kishner Reaction

Name:
Wolff-Kishner Reaction
Detailed information:
This reduction reaction was discovered independently in Germany (Wolff, 1912) and in Russia (Kishner, 1911). A ketone (or aldehyde) is converted into the hydrazone, and this derivative is heated in a sealed tube or an autoclave with sodium ethoxide in absolute ethanol.

After preliminary technical improvements, Huang Minlon (1946) introduced a modified procedure by which the reduction is conducted on a large scale at atmospheric pressure with efficiency and economy (L. & M. Fieser).