9.31 - Reduction of Ketones to Alkenes

The significance of alkene and carbonyl groups in organic synthesis is evident, with numerous reactions utilizing either of these functional groups. Consequently, the interconversion of these groups is of utmost importance for the synthetic chemistry community. This chapter focuses on various transformations from ketones to alkenes. While there are only a few examples of direct conversion from ketones to alkenes, exploring two- or three-step transformations reveals a wide range of possibilities. Additionally, more examples can be considered when dealing with ketones bearing specific substituents or when particular spatial arrangements induce changes in carbonyl function reactivity. Furthermore, the article delves into selected rearrangements that formally convert ketones into alkenes as well.