Hi!
I'm wondering about the differences between all the available reducing agents - and more specifically, why special reducing agents are used in different reactions.
I mean, sometimes, reductions are done with LiAlH4, sometimes with HI/P, Al/Hg, NaCNBH3, etc...
Now, for example, why does epehdrine need to be reduced with HI/P, why can't you use LiALH4 for example? I understand that some reducing agents are stronger than others, but that can't explain the huge variety of agents used in different reactions.