Can aldol condensation be acid catalyzed?

Aldol condensation reaction can be either acid catalyzed or base catalyzed.

What is acid catalysed condensation reaction?

It is a condensation reaction in which dimerisation of aldehyde or ketone occurs. In it, an enolate ion reacts with a carbonyl compound to form a beta-hydroxy aldehyde or beta-hydroxy ketone, accompanied by elimination of water molecule to yield a conjugated enone.

Does acetaldehyde give aldol condensation?

Acetaldehyde undergoes aldol condensation, but formaldehyde does not.

Can aldol condensation is possible in acidic medium?

The spontaneous dehydration of β-hydroxy carbonyl compound containing an α-hydrogen may be possible under the aldol reaction conditions or by heating in acid medium. The formation of stable α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound is the driving force for this step.

Why is aldol condensation base catalyzed?

The mechanisms for acid catalyzed aldol condensation and base catalyzed aldol condensation is significantly different. While bases activate the nucleophile, acids activate the electrophile in the reaction. It must be noted that aldol condensation is an integral mechanism of Robinson annulation as well.

What is aldol condensation reaction with example?

Aldol Condensation can be defined as an organic reaction in which enolate ion reacts with a carbonyl compound to form β-hydroxy ketone or β-hydroxy aldehyde, followed by dehydration to give a conjugated enone. Aldol Condensation plays a vital role in organic synthesis, creating a path to form carbon-carbon bonds.

What type of aldehydes undergo aldol condensation?

The aldehydes that have alpha hydrogen atoms undergo aldol condensation reaction. Benzaldehyde lacks the alpha hydrogen, so it cannot undergo aldol condensation reaction. In all other options, there is atleast one alpha hydrogen, so they can undergo aldol condensation reaction.

What happens when acetaldehyde reacts with dilute NaOH?

Acetaldehyde reacts with NaOH to form beta hydroxy butyraldehyde. This is an example of aldol condensation reaction and is given by aldehydes or ketones having alpha hydrogen atom.

Which is the condition for aldol condensation reaction in aldehydes and ketones?

What is aldol condensation? When aldehydes and ketones having at least one α-hydrogen are treated with dilute alkali (which act as a catalyst) they form β-hydroxy aldehydes (aldol) or β-hydroxy ketones (ketol) respectively. This reaction is known as aldol condensation.

Why acid-catalyzed aldol reaction dehydrates easily to the condensation product?

Under acidic and basic conditions the aldol may be dehydrated during the course of the reaction. Dehydration can occur relatively easily, since the new double bond is in conjugation with the carbonyl group’s double bond.