Aldol Condensation
Easychemistry
Aldol condensation requires compounds possessing:
Select the correct option:
Solution
Incorrect! Answer:
At least one α-hydrogen to form enolate
- Role of Base: In an Aldol reaction, dilute alkali (NaOH or KOH) is used to abstract a proton.
- α-Hydrogen: This proton must be taken from the carbon atom adjacent to the carbonyl group (the α-carbon).
- Intermediate: The loss of this proton creates a resonance-stabilized Enolate ion.
- Nucleophilicity: The enolate behaves as a nucleophile and attacks the carbonyl carbon of another aldehyde/ketone molecule.
- Requirement: Without at least one α-hydrogen, the enolate cannot form, and the reaction cannot proceed. For example, Methanal and Benzaldehyde do not undergo Aldol condensation (they undergo Cannizzaro instead).
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- oxygen organics
- Topic
- aldol condensation
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
At least one α-hydrogen to form enolate
- Role of Base: In an Aldol reaction, dilute alkali (NaOH or KOH) is used to abstract a proton.
- α-Hydrogen: This proton must be taken from the carbon atom adjacent to the carbonyl group (the α-carbon).
- Intermediate: The loss of this proton creates a resonance-stabilized Enolate ion.
- Nucleophilicity: The enolate behaves as a nucleophile and attacks the carbonyl carbon of another aldehyde/ketone molecule.
- Requirement: Without at least one α-hydrogen, the enolate cannot form, and the reaction cannot proceed. For example, Methanal and Benzaldehyde do not undergo Aldol condensation (they undergo Cannizzaro instead).
This easy difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter oxygen organics, covering the topic of aldol condensation. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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