| Abstract: | Chromium(II) salts can be used for a variety of reductions in organic chemistry; for example, alkyl halides and suitably substituted olefins may both be reduced to alkanes, and alkynes may be converted into trans-olefins. Several epoxyketones are reduced to α,β-unsaturated ketones or β-hydroxyketones, and a nitro steroid was found to give a hydroxy(hydroxyimino) compound. The reduction of alkyl halides is reported to proceed by a free-radical mechanism; the halogen atom that is set free forms a bridge between two chromium atoms. |
