THE MOST CLANDESTINE SUITABLE SUBSTITUTE FOR LIQUID AMMONIA IS ETHYLENEDIAMINE
Ethylenediamine (en) is a solvent that can be used in a variation of the Birch reduction, a chemical reaction that reduces aromatic rings to 1,4-cyclohexadienes. This variant, sometimes referred to as Birch-type reduction, uses lithium metal and ethylenediamine in THF (tetrahydrofuran) as an alternative to the traditional liquid ammonia Birch reduction.
Elaboration:
Birch Reduction:
The traditional Birch reduction employs liquid ammonia and an alkali metal (like lithium or sodium) to reduce aromatic compounds to 1,4-cyclohexadienes.
Ethylenediamine as an Alternative Solvent:
Ethylenediamine, when used in combination with lithium metal and THF, provides an alternative solvent system for Birch-type reductions.
Advantages of the Ethylenediamine Variant:
This variant offers several advantages, including:
Simpler Handling: Ethylenediamine and THF are generally less hazardous and easier to handle than liquid ammonia, reducing the need for specialized equipment and cryogenic temperatures.
Scalable: The reaction has been scaled up to gram scale, making it more practical for research and development.
Simpler Workup: The reaction workup is simplified, often involving quenching with water, evaporation of THF, and partitioning.
*You can also substitute lithium for sodium metal *
? Would potassium metal dissolve blue electrons ?
The attachment pictures are excerpts from Uncle Fester
Thank you
Ethylenediamine (en) is a solvent that can be used in a variation of the Birch reduction, a chemical reaction that reduces aromatic rings to 1,4-cyclohexadienes. This variant, sometimes referred to as Birch-type reduction, uses lithium metal and ethylenediamine in THF (tetrahydrofuran) as an alternative to the traditional liquid ammonia Birch reduction.
Elaboration:
Birch Reduction:
The traditional Birch reduction employs liquid ammonia and an alkali metal (like lithium or sodium) to reduce aromatic compounds to 1,4-cyclohexadienes.
Ethylenediamine as an Alternative Solvent:
Ethylenediamine, when used in combination with lithium metal and THF, provides an alternative solvent system for Birch-type reductions.
Advantages of the Ethylenediamine Variant:
This variant offers several advantages, including:
Simpler Handling: Ethylenediamine and THF are generally less hazardous and easier to handle than liquid ammonia, reducing the need for specialized equipment and cryogenic temperatures.
Scalable: The reaction has been scaled up to gram scale, making it more practical for research and development.
Simpler Workup: The reaction workup is simplified, often involving quenching with water, evaporation of THF, and partitioning.
*You can also substitute lithium for sodium metal *
? Would potassium metal dissolve blue electrons ?
The attachment pictures are excerpts from Uncle Fester
Thank you
