There are several variations of the Aldol reaction.Which of the following types of reactants leads to only one possible product with the Aldol condensation reaction?
A)Two different aldehydes with a-hydrogens are able to form a single aldol condensation product.
B)Two different ketones with a-hydrogens are able to form a single aldol condensation product.
C)Any aldehyde and ketone mixed together can react to form a single condensation product.
D)Any pair of aldehyde or ketone reactants where one of the reactants has no a-hydrogens will lead to a single aldol product.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In an Aldol reaction, if one of the reactants does not have α-hydrogens, it cannot form an enolate ion and thus cannot act as a nucleophile. This limits the reaction to only one possible direction where the other reactant (which must have α-hydrogens) forms the enolate and attacks the carbonyl carbon of the first reactant, leading to a single product.

There Are Several Variations of the Aldol Reaction