I want to know the exact detailed mechanism of this reduction. The book I have is a little ambiguous about what the Zn metal is doing in addition to being attacked or attached to the Oxygen in the carbonyl group. Is there a radical on the carbonyl carbon after the Zn metal is attached?

If this is for a general organic class most likely the mechanism is absolutely not important.

I know... I know... it's a shift of thinking. Mechanism has been pounded into your head. Well, in my experience, the mechanism of the clemmenson hasn't ever, ever been needed for a basic organic chem class... that is unless the prof presented it... in which case you wouldn't be posting.

I could go look to see about the mechanism... I'm too lazy. I have a bs in chem and taught labs and some recitations for organic. Never, ever needed to know the mechanism.

The most important thing is to understand its role in synthesis... that you can take a carbonyl compound and reduce it down. Nifty little reaction.

The mechanism for the clemenson is still contraversory.

As per my knowledge Zn is donating electrons to carbocation to lead to proton attack which will form C double bond to CH2