Question

Explain the aldol condensation of ethanal.

Answer 1

Aldehydes containing at least one α-hydrogen atom undergo a reaction in the presence of dilute alkali (dilute NaOH, KOH or Na₂CO₃) as a catalyst to form β-hydroxy aldehydes (aldol). This reaction is known as the aldol reaction.

Ethanal contains an α-hydrogen atom, so it undergoes the aldol condensation reaction.

\[\ce{\underset{Ethanal}{2CH3 - CHO} ->[dil{.} NaOH] \underset{3-Hydroxybutanal}{CH3 - CHOH - CH2 - CHO}}\]

\[\ce{\underset{3-Hydroxybutanal}{CH3 - CHOH - CH2 - CHO} ->[H+] \underset{But-2-enal}{CH3 - CH = CH - CHO} + H2O}\]

When ethanal is treated with dilute base NaOH, KOH or sodium carbonate, two molecules of ethanal add together to form 3-Hydroxybutanal. When 3-Hydroxybutanal is heated in the presence of an acid, a molecule of water is lost, and But-2-enal is formed.

Answer 2

The carbon atom adjacent to the carbonyl carbon atom is called the α-carbon atom (α − C).

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\phantom{.........}\ce{O}\\
\phantom{.........}||\\
\ce{- \overset{\beta}{C} - \overset{\alpha}{C} - C - \overset{\alpha}{C} -}\\
|\phantom{.....}\\
\ce{H^\alpha}\phantom{...}\\
\end{array}\]

Aldol condensation reaction is a characteristic reaction of aldehydes and ketones containing an active α-hydrogen atom.

When aldehydes or ketones having α-H atoms are heated with a dilute base or dilute acid, two molecules undergo self-condensation to yield β-hydroxy aldehyde (aldol) or β-hydroxy ketone (ketol), respectively. The reaction is referred to as the aldol addition reaction.

For aldehyde:

Acetaldol, on heating, undergoes subsequent elimination of water, giving rise to α, β-unsaturated aldehyde.

The overall reaction is called aldol condensation. It is a nucleophilic addition-elimination reaction.