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Reduction with Metals

Even though alkynes bear a high electron density at the triple bond, the sp carbons are capable of accepting electrons from alkali metals that are prone to release them in order to get the electronic configuration of a noble gas.

An alkyne takes up an electron from sodium in ammonia to form a radical anion
The radical anion is protonated to give an alkenyl radical, which adopts the more stable trans configuration
The alkenyl radical takes up another electron from sodium and becomes an alkenyl anion
The alkenyl anion is protonated by ammonia to give the trans olefin