Reduction to alkanes:

Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced to alkanes through three diverse methods that are complementary to each other. The Wolff-Kishner reduction is performed within basic conditions and is appropriate for compounds which might be sensitive to acid. The reaction includes the nucleophilic addition of hydrazine followed by elimination of water to make a hydrazone. The mechanism is similar as that explained for the synthesis of 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazones.

Figure: Wolff-Kishner reduction.

 Though, the simple hydrazone made within these reaction conditions spontaneously decomposes with the loss of nitrogen gas.