Abstract
The Birch reduction is the 1,4-reduction of aromatics to their corresponding cyclohexadienes by alkali metals (Li, K, Na) dissolved in liquid ammonia in the presence of an alcohol.
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References
Birch, A. J. J. Chem. Soc. 1944, 430–436. Arthur Birch (1915–1995), an Australian, developed the “Birch reduction” at Oxford University during WWII in Robert Robinson’s laboratory. The Birch reduction was instrumental to the discovery of the birth control pills and many other drugs.
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Li, J.J. (2014). Birch reduction. In: Name Reactions. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03979-4_25
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03979-4_25
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