A graduate student was studying enzymatic reductions of cyclohexanones when she encountered some interesting chemistry.
When she used an enzyme and NADPH to reduce the following ketone, she was surprised to find that the product was optically active.
She carefully repurified the product so that no enzyme, NADPH, or other contaminants were present.
Still, the product was optically active.
NADPH enzyme——> optically active
c. If this reaction could be accomplished using H2 and a nickel catalyst, would the product be optically active? Explain.
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