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Aldol Condensation

  • Page ID
    16584
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    Enolizable aldehydes and enolizable ketones, in the presence of an acid or base catalyst in aqueous medium at high temperature, undergo a reaction, giving an α, β-unsaturated aldehyde or an α, β-unsaturated ketone, respectively, as the product. This reaction is known as aldol condensation. The base-catalyzed aldol condensation, in which the catalyst is usually the hydroxide ion, is more common.

    eg:

    aldolcondensation1.png

    Mechanism

    Step 1: The hydroxide ion deprotanates the aldehyde reversibly.

    aldolreaction2.png

    Step 2: Enolate ion 1 adds to the unreacted aldehyde.

    aldolreaction3.png

    Step 3: Alkoxide ion 2 is protonated by water.

    aldolcondensation2-1.png

    Step 4: Aldol 3 is an enolizable aldehyde. A small amount of it is converted to the corresponding enolate ion (4) by the hydroxide ion.

    aldolcondensation3.png

    Step 5: Enolate ion 4 loses a hydroxide ion.

    aldolcondensation4.png

    Step 1 through 3 are an aldol reaction, steps 4 and 5 a 1,2-elimination via E1cB mechanism. Thus, aldol condensation is aldol reaction


    This page titled Aldol Condensation is shared under a All Rights Reserved (used with permission) license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gamini Gunawardena via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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