--- title: "Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction and Oppenauer oxidation Template | MolDraw" url: https://www.moldraw.com/templates/meerwein-ponndorf-verley-oppenauer/ description: "Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction and Oppenauer oxidation template: The ketone binds to aluminium isopropoxide and a hydride moves from the isopropoxide C–H…" lang: en publisher: Scidart Academy generated: 2026-11-13 --- [MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/) › [Templates](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/) › [Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/name-reactions/) › Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction and Oppenauer oxidation [Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/name-reactions/)Premium # Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction and Oppenauer oxidation template ![Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction and Oppenauer oxidation template: The ketone binds to aluminium isopropoxide and a hydride moves from the isopropoxide C–H to the carbonyl carbon in a six-membered cyclic transition state, releasing acetone. Every step is reversible: excess isopropanol (and distilling off acetone) reduces the ketone (MPV); excess acetone oxidises an alcohol (Oppenauer).](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/meerwein-ponndorf-verley-oppenauer.webp) [Edit in MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/)Download with Pro Premium template. Preview and edit it free in MolDraw; downloading and exporting it is part of [MolDraw Pro](https://www.moldraw.com/pricing). The ketone binds to aluminium isopropoxide and a hydride moves from the isopropoxide C–H to the carbonyl carbon in a six-membered cyclic transition state, releasing acetone. Every step is reversible: excess isopropanol (and distilling off acetone) reduces the ketone (MPV); excess acetone oxidises an alcohol (Oppenauer). ## Mechanism step by step Al(OiPr)₃ moves a hydride between two carbonyl partners through a six-membered ring 1. **Coordination** – The carbonyl O binds to the Lewis-acidic Al 2. **Hydride transfer** – Six-membered cyclic transition state (Al, O, C, H, C, O): H moves from the isopropoxide carbon to C=O 3. **Acetone leaves** – The Al–O bond to acetone breaks (acetone is distilled off) 4. **Alcohol exchange** – Isopropanol releases cyclohexanol and regenerates Al(OiPr)₃ 5. **Oppenauer (reverse)** – The same steps backwards: excess acetone takes the hydride ## Key points - No free hydride: H⁻ moves directly from carbon to carbon inside the aluminium complex. - An equilibrium: Le Chatelier sets the direction (distil off acetone for MPV; use excess acetone or cyclohexanone for Oppenauer). - Very chemoselective: C=C, NO₂, halides and esters are untouched (crotonaldehyde → crotyl alcohol). - Oppenauer oxidises secondary alcohols under mild, non-acidic conditions; used for steroids (cholesterol → cholest-4-en-3-one). Drawn with 165 atoms, 11 arrows, 11 shapes – every one editable in MolDraw. ## Sources - [Kürti & Czakó, Strategic Applications of Named Reactions in Organic Synthesis, Elsevier 2005, Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction; Oppenauer oxidation](https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780124297852) Textbook - [Smith, March's Advanced Organic Chemistry, 8th ed., Wiley 2020, ch. 19](https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119371809) Textbook ## How to use this template 1. Press **Edit in MolDraw**. The template opens on the canvas of the free MolDraw editor. 2. Change anything: move structures, edit atoms and labels, recolour highlights or delete what you do not need. 3. Add your own structures, arrows and text next to it, or combine several templates on one page. 4. Export the drawing as PNG, SVG or PDF for slides, worksheets, theses and papers. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction and Oppenauer oxidation template free? You can preview the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction and Oppenauer oxidation template here and open and edit it in MolDraw for free. Downloading or exporting it is part of MolDraw Pro, together with the other premium templates. ### Can I edit the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction and Oppenauer oxidation template? Yes. It opens as an ordinary MolDraw drawing, so every structure, arrow, label and colour can be changed, and you can add your own content around it. ### Is the chemistry checked? Every structure is checked with RDKit and every curly arrow passes MolDraw’s electron-flow audit. The sources used are listed on this page. ### Which name reactions are included? 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