Question

Identify and draw the main products formed in the following chemical reactions:

Hint:

NaBH\textsubscript{4} efficiently reduces aldehydes and ketones to alcohols, but esters usually require stronger reducing agents unless specific conditions are used.

Answer 1

(a) The reaction of a primary alcohol:

The reaction results in the formation of a primary alcohol:

Product: \( \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_2\text{CH}_2\text{OH} \)

(b) The ketone reacts with aluminium, which acts as a reducing agent, resulting in the formation of a saturated hydrocarbon:

The ketone is reduced to a saturated hydrocarbon:

Product: \( \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{CH}\text{CH}_3 \) (Isobutane is obtained after complete reduction)