Birch-type Reduction Method without Liquid Ammonia

Abstract

Birch reduction is one of the most fundamental and popular organic chemical reactions. Although this reaction enables the unique transformation such as the direct reduction of benzene rings to 1,4-dienes, the use of liquid NH₃ and alkali metal, which are hazardous and risky, is required for the original reaction condition. This short review describes the new alternative methods without liquid NH₃ and alkali metal.