aldol condensation
all alpha hydrogens (around the O=C)
Aldol condensation is a type of organic reaction that results in the formation of a new carbon-carbon bond. It is a two-step process where a carbonyl compound (aldehyde or ketone) undergoes nucleophilic addition by a base to form an enolate. The enolate then reacts with another carbonyl compound to form a β-hydroxyketone or β-hydroxyaldehyde product.
The name “aldol” is derived from the words “aldehyde” and “alcohol” because the product of the reaction has both functional groups. The condensation reaction occurs because the product is formed by the elimination of a water molecule from the β-hydroxyketone or β-hydroxyaldehyde intermediate.
The reaction can take place in both acidic and basic conditions. In acidic conditions, the carbonyl compound is protonated, which activates the carbonyl group for nucleophilic attack. In basic conditions, the base deprotonates a carbon alpha to the carbonyl group, creating the enolate intermediate.
The aldol condensation is an important tool in the synthesis of many complex organic molecules, such as natural products and pharmaceuticals. It is also a useful transformation in synthetic organic chemistry for the formation of new carbon-carbon bonds.
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