Birch reduction

noun

An organic reaction in which an aromatic ring is reduced to a 1,4-cyclohexadiene with an alkali metal (e.g. sodium) in liquid ammonia in the presence of an alcohol.

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Meanings

nounBirch reduction (plural Birch reductions)

plural Birch reductions

  1. chemistryAn organic reaction in which an aromatic ring is reduced to a 1,4-cyclohexadiene with an alkali metal (e.g. sodium) in liquid ammonia in the presence of an alcohol.

Origin

Named for Arthur Birch, a chemist who developed this reaction.

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Cite this entry
APA

Birch reduction. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Birch%20reduction

MLA

“Birch reduction.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Birch%20reduction. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Birch reduction,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Birch%20reduction.

Source: Birch reduction on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.