Birch reduction: intermediate mechanism

III. The Birch Reduction of Aromatic Steroids /II Mechanism of the reduction of aromatic compounds / 12 Factors influencing the rate of reduction / 14 Protonation of reduction intermediates / 17... 

As indicated in Scheme 1, the reaction mechanism is similar to that of Birch reduction, and an alcohol intermediate has to be passed through. Therefore, while activated alcohols such as benzyl alcohols and their derivatives can be reduced under these conditions, reduction of aliphatic alcohols carrying no activating group does not take place. 

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