An Alternative Method of Reduction

This tableau merely means that p has the dimensions M1L 3, etc. The matrix is of rank 3, so these three are an independent set and span the three dimensions. The matrix can be inverted to express the basic dimensions in terms of the three parametric quantities  

We shall make use of this in discussing families of solutions. 

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Cast the problem in dimensionless form. The two approaches to this have been discussed in detail (see The Reduction of Equations to Dimensionless Form and An Alternative Method of Reduction in Chapter 2). Do not stop half way with only some of the variables dimensionless. 

When a carbonyl group must be removed from a molecule, the acidic conditions of the Clemmensen reduction are not always compatible with other functional groups. An alternative method of reduction was developed in basic media that relied on the reaction of carbonyls with hydrazine to form a hydrazone. In the presence of base, a hydrazone anion intermediate (sec. 9.4.F) can be formed that removes a proton from the acidic solvent, leading to reduction. This process has been termed the Wolff-Kishner reduction. A variety of modifications have been introduced for this procedure, including isolation of the hydrazone and using an... 

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