Aldol and ketol products formed in the Aldol reaction readily lose water to form α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, and this reaction is known as Aldol condensation.
How are α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds formed in Aldol condensation, and what is the general name for these products?
Share
α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds are formed in Aldol condensation through the elimination of water from the aldol product. After the aldol addition, the intermediate aldol undergoes dehydration, often in the presence of heat, to eliminate a molecule of water. This process leads to the formation of a conjugated system, creating a carbon-carbon double bond between the α and β carbons. The general name for these products is α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. They feature a carbonyl group (C=O) on the α carbon and a carbon-carbon double bond (C=C) on the β carbon, making them important intermediates in organic synthesis.