Potassium

Product Manager

Sandra Forbes

Name Reactions

McMurry Reaction

This reductive coupling process unfolds in two sequential stages. Initially, the coupling reaction is triggered by the transfer of a single electron from an alkali metal (potassium) to the carbonyl groups. Subsequently, deoxygenation of the resulting 1,2 - diol occurs through the action of low - valent titanium, ultimately leading to the formation of the alkene.

The McMurry Reaction proves highly effective in the synthesis of symmetric products or cyclic compounds: 

Mechanism of the McMurry Reaction

Recent Literature

A New Approach to the Preparation of 1,3,4-Triarylpyrroles

D. X. Zeng, Y. Chen, Synlett, 2006, 490-492.

DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-932452

Insights into the General and Efficient Cross McMurry Reactions between Ketones

X.-F. Duan, J. Zeng, J.-W. Lü, Z.-B. Zhang, J. Org. Chem., 2006, 71, 9873-9876.

DOI: 10.1021/jo061644d

Quoted from: 

https://www.organic-chemistry.org/chemicals/reductions/potassium.shtm

Aladdinsci: https://www.aladdinsci.com