Metal-ammonia solutions compressibility

Thompson JC. Compressibility of metal-ammonia solutions, Phys. Rev. A1971,4, 802-804. 

Data presented in Table 13 show that with only two exceptions the reduction of steroid ketones by alkali metals, either dissolving in alcohols, or in solution in liquid ammonia, gives the thermodynamically stable equatorial alcohol. Even in the exceptional cases at C(d and C(i2) the mixtures of alcohols correspond closely to thermodynamic equilibration of epimers, for the equatorial i/5-alcohol is destabilised by compression of the hydroxyl and ii-CH2 moieties, and a X2, hydroxy cholane is even more strained by steric interference... 

LIQUID AMMONIA (7664-41-7, anhydrous, compressed gas or cryogenic liquid 1336-21-6, solution in water) Difficult to ignite, but can detonate in confined spaces in fire. Reacts violently with strong oxidizers, acids (nitric, hydrochloric, sulfuric, picric, hydro-bromic, hydrochlorous, etc.). Shock-, temperature-, and pressure-sensitive compounds are formed with antimony, chlorine, germanium compounds, halogens, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, mercury oxide, silver compounds (azides, chlorides, nitrates, oxides). Fire and/or explosions may be caused by contact with acetaldehyde, acrolein, aldehydes, alkylene oxides, amides, antimony, boron, boron halides, boron triiodide, bromine, bromine chloride, chloric acid, chlorine, chlorine monoxide, o-chloronitrobenzene, l-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, chlorosilane, chloromelamine, chromium trioxide, chromylchloride, epichlorohydrin, fluorine, hexachloromelamine, hypochlorites (do not mix ammonia with liquid household... 

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