Rapid Wolff–Kishner reductions in a silicon carbide microreactor

Wolff–Kishner reductions are performed in a novel silicon carbide microreactor. Greatly reduced reaction times and safer operation are achieved, giving high yields without requiring a large excess of hydrazine. The corrosion resistance of silicon carbide avoids the problematic reactor compatibility issues that arise when Wolff–Kishner reductions are done in glass or stainless steel reactors. With only nitrogen gas and water as by-products, this opens the possibility of performing selective, large scale ketone reductions without the generation of hazardous waste streams.Novartis-MIT Center for Continuous ManufacturingNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (post-doctoral fellowship

A Convenient Method for the Assignment of Relative Configuration of Acyclic α-Alkyl-β-hydroxy Carbonyl Compounds by ¹H NMR

The relative configuration of acyclic α-alkyl-β-hydroxy carbonyl compounds can be determined by using 1H NMR spectroscopy. The assignment can be achieved by recording the 1H NMR spectrum of the syn−anti mixture. The upfield carbinol hydrogen signal belongs to the anti whereas the downfield to the syn stereoisomer