Emde Degradation

Abstract

The reductive cleavage of quaternary ammonium salt of nitrogen‐containing compounds (especially in heterocyclic forms) by means of the treatment with an excess of sodium amalgam in an alcoholic or aqueous solution is generally known as Emde degradation and the corresponding products are called the Emde products. It has been reported that the position of the scission for the nitrogenous heterocyclic ring depends on the reaction condition, affording one product or two products. This reaction has been modified to occur in liquid ammonia by treatment of sodium or to degrade the ammonium salt by photo irradiation.