Question

Please explain mechanism of aldol condensation.

Answer 1

An aldol condensation is a condensation reaction in organic chemistry in which an enol or an enolate ion reacts with a carbonyl compound to form a β-hydroxyaldehyde or β-hydroxyketone (analdol reaction), followed by dehydration to give a conjugated enone.

Mechanism of Aldol Condensation
1)Hydroxide functions as a base and therefore moves the acidic a-hydrogen producing the reactive enolate ion. This reaction can be seen as an acid-base reaction.
2)The aldehyde is attacked at the electrophilic carbonyl carbon by the nucleophilic enolate ion. This attack is a nucleophilic addition reaction and gives alkoxide intermediate.
3)The alkoxide deprotonates water molecule, thereby producing hydroxide and the β-hydroxyaldehyde.