AAMC FL Practice Exam

Which compounds can react in an aldol condensation?

1. Aldehyde + Aldehyde

2. Ketone + Ketone

3. Aldehyde + Ketone

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

In an aldol condensation reaction, compounds must contain α-hydrogens that can be deprotonated to form an enolate ion, which then reacts with a carbonyl compound to form a β-hydroxy carbonyl intermediate. This intermediate can further undergo dehydration to yield an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound. Aldehydes and ketones both contain the necessary carbonyl functional group, and they can readily participate in aldol condensation reactions. When considering the options: - An aldehyde can react with another aldehyde to form an aldol, since it possesses α-hydrogens. - Similarly, a ketone can react with another ketone, as ketones also have α-hydrogens that facilitate the formation of the enolate ion. - Additionally, a combination of an aldehyde and a ketone can also react in an aldol condensation. In this case, the aldehyde or ketone with more α-hydrogens will typically form the enolate ion. Since all three types of combinations—aldehyde with aldehyde, ketone with ketone, and aldehyde with ketone—are capable of participating in aldol condensation reactions, the correct answer encompasses all of these possibilities. Therefore