overreduce
Overreduce, or overreduction, is the unintended further reduction of a substrate beyond the intended product state during a chemical reduction. It occurs when the conditions or reagents used are too strong, not selective enough, or applied for too long, causing more functional groups or sites to be reduced than desired. The term is common in organic synthesis and can also apply to enzymatic or industrial processes where a substrate is driven to a lower oxidation state than planned.
Typical scenarios involve reducing carbonyl compounds beyond the target. For example, a reduction intended to convert
Mitigation strategies emphasize selectivity and control. Choosing chemoselective reagents or catalysts, protecting groups, and carefully controlling
In practice, overreduction can lower yields, create unwanted side products, and complicate purification, making it a