aldol condensation
all alpha hydrogens (around the O=C)
The Aldol condensation is a reaction between two carbonyl compounds, usually an aldehyde and a ketone, in the presence of a base, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH). The reaction results in the formation of a β-hydroxyketone or β-hydroxyaldehyde, known as an aldol, which can further undergo dehydration to form an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound.
The mechanism of the aldol condensation involves the initial attack of the base on the carbonyl carbon of one reactant, followed by the formation of an enolate ion. The second reactant then undergoes electrophilic attack by the enolate, resulting in the formation of a β-hydroxyketone or β-hydroxyaldehyde. The reaction can be driven to completion by removing water, either by heating or through the use of a strong dehydrating agent, such as sulfuric acid (H2SO4).
One of the key challenges in the aldol condensation is controlling the extent of reaction, as multiple aldol products can form from the reaction between two or more carbonyl compounds. To address this challenge, selective aldol condensations can be achieved using specific reaction conditions or by using one carbonyl compound that is more reactive than the other.
The aldol condensation has a wide range of applications in organic synthesis, including the synthesis of natural products, pharmaceuticals, and other complex organic molecules.
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