What is the aldol reaction?
Q: What is the aldol reaction?
A: The aldol reaction is a type of organic reaction that allows the formation of carbon-carbon bonds.
Q: When was the aldol reaction discovered?
A: The aldol reaction was discovered in 1872.
Q: What are the reagents required for the aldol reaction?
A: The reagents required for the aldol reaction are two carbonyl compounds and a base.
Q: What happens to one of the carbonyl compounds during the aldol reaction?
A: A proton is removed from one of the carbonyl compounds, creating a negative charge on the α-carbon (the carbon next to the C-O double bond).
Q: How does the second carbonyl compound get involved in the aldol reaction?
A: The negatively charged α-carbon attacks the second carbonyl compound, forming a new bond.
Q: What is the product of the aldol reaction?
A: The product of the aldol reaction is a β-hydroxy carbonyl compound, which contains a C-O double bond and an alcohol two carbon atoms down the chain.
Q: What is the significance of the aldol reaction?
A: The aldol reaction is significant because it allows for the creation of larger molecules from smaller ones and can also be used to create chiral centers.
