Reaction aldol condensation

The usual base or acid catalyzed aldol addition or ester condensation reactions can only be applied as a useful synthetic reaction, if both carbonyl components are identical. Otherwise complicated mixtures of products are formed. If two different aldehydes or esters are to be combined, it is essential that one of the components is transformed quantitatively into an enol whereas the other component remains as a carbonyl compound in the reaction mixture. 

Many commercially important isobutyraldehyde derivatives are prepared through aldol and/or Tischenko condensation reactions. For example, isobutyraldehyde undergoes the aldol reaction to form isobutyraldol (2,2,4-trimethyl-3-hydroxypentanal [918-79-6]) which, when hydrogenated, gives 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol (TMPD) [144-19-4],... 

The a-ionization of 7-methylpteridines can also be utilized in aldol-type condensation reactions. 7-Methyl-pterin and -lumazine and 2,4-diaminopteridine condense readily in aqueous base with aromatic aldehydes to afford 7-alkylidenepteridines (77JOC2951). A Claisen condensation requires the protection of the acidic hydrogens of the amide bonds. 

Mechanistically, the reaction of diketosulfides and glyoxal likely proceeds via an initial aldol reaction to provide 22. A second intramolecular aldol reaction and the elimination of two equivalents of water produce the thiophene 23. The timing of the elimination reactions and the ring-closing, carbonyl condensation reaction is not completely understood. However, 2,5-disubstituted thiophenes 23 are available in good yields via this process. 

The azlactones of a-benzoylaminocinnamic acids have traditionally been prepared by the action of hippuric acid (1, Ri = Ph) and acetic anhydride upon aromatic aldehydes, usually in the presence of sodium acetate. The formation of the oxazolone (2) in Erlenmeyer-Plochl synthesis is supported by good evidence. The method is a way to important intermediate products used in the synthesis of a-amino acids, peptides and related compounds. The aldol condensation reaction of azlactones (2) with carbonyl compounds is often followed by hydrolysis to provide unsaturated a-acylamino acid (4). Reduction yields the corresponding amino acid (6), while drastic hydrolysis gives the a-0X0 acid (5). ... 

The best method to achieve a high regioselectivity is the use of preformed enolates. A double annulation reaction is possible if, for example, a diketone such as 11 is used as starting material. The product of the Michael addition 12 can undergo two subsequent aldol condensation reactions to yield the tricyclic dienone 13 ... 

Thomson -JOnV Click Organic Interactive to learn to draw the structures of products from aldol-type condensation reactions. 

Aldehydes and ketones with an a hydrogen atom undergo a base-catalyzed carbonyl condensation reaction called the aldol reaction. For example, treatment of acetaldehyde with a base such as sodium ethoxide or sodium hydroxide in a protic solvent leads to rapid and reversible formation of 3-hydroxybutanal, known commonly as aldol (aidehyde + alcohol), hence the general name of the reaction. 

On the other hand, carbonyl condensation reactions require only a catalytic amount of a relatively weak base rather than a full equivalent so that a small amount of enolate ion is generated in the presence of unreacted carbonyl compound. Once a condensation has occurred, the basic catalyst is regenerated. To carry out an aldol reaction on propanal, for instance, we might dissolve the aldehyde in methanol, add 0.05 equivalent of sodium methoxide, and then warm the mixture to give the aldol product. 

The jS-hydroxy aldehydes or ketones formed in aldol reactions can be easily dehydrated to yield a -unsaturated products, or conjugated enones. In fact, it s this loss of water that gives the condensation reaction its name, because water condenses out of the reaction when the enone product forms. 

Tire mechanism of the Claisen condensation is similar to that of the aldol condensation and involves the nucleophilic addition of an ester enolate ion to the carbonyl group of a second ester molecule. The only difference between the aldol condensation of an aldeiwde or ketone and the Claisen condensation of an ester involves the fate of the initially formed tetrahedral intermediate. The tetrahedral intermediate in the aldol reaction is protonated to give an alcohol product—exactly the behavior previously seen for aldehydes and ketones (Section 19.4). The tetrahedral intermediate in the Claisen reaction, however, expels an alkoxide leaving group to yield an acyl substitution product—exactly the behavior previously seen for esters (Section 21.6). The mechanism of the Claisen condensation reaction is shown in Figure 23.5. 

Carbonyl condensation reactions are widely used in synthesis. One example of their versatility is the Robinson anuulation reaction, which leads to the formation of an substituted cyclohexenone. Treatment of a /3-diketone or /3-keto ester with an a,/3-unsaturated ketone leads first to a Michael addition, which is followed by intramolecular aldol cyclization. Condensation reactions are also used widely in nature for the biosynthesis of such molecules as fats and steroids. 

As summarized in Figure 27.7, the mevalonate pathway begins with the conversion of acetate to acetyl CoA, followed by Claisen condensation to yield acetoacety) CoA. A second carbonyl condensation reaction with a third molecule of acetyl CoA, this one an aldol-like process, then yields the six-carbon compound 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA, which is reduced to give mevalonate. Phosphorylation, followed by loss of C02 and phosphate ion, completes the process. 

Aldol reaction (Section 23.1) The carbonyl condensation reaction of an aldehyde or ketone to give a jS-hydroxy carbonyl compound. 

Microwaves, electromagnetic spectrum and. 419 Mincralocorticoid, 1083 Minor groove (DNA), 1104-1105 Mitomycin C, structure of, 970 Mixed aldol reaction, 885-886 requirements for. 885-886 Mixed Claisen condensation reaction, 890-891... 

Extension of this aldol reactivity to the preparation of chiral materials via condensation reactions of the chiral enolate species 2 and 3 is discussed in the following sections. 

Aldol condensation reactions have also been conducted. A good example is provided by Climent et al. (1998) for making a-n-amyl cinnamaldehyde (Jasmin aldehyde) by condensing benzaldehyde with n-heptaldehyde, in the presence of mesoporous MCM-41 aluminosilicates. Mesoporous silica-aluminas with a narrow range of pore diameter such as MCM-41 also... 

The general mechanistic features of the aldol addition and condensation reactions of aldehydes and ketones were discussed in Section 7.7 of Part A, where these general mechanisms can be reviewed. That mechanistic discussion pertains to reactions occurring in hydroxylic solvents and under thermodynamic control. These conditions are useful for the preparation of aldehyde dimers (aldols) and certain a,(3-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones. For example, the mixed condensation of aromatic aldehydes with aliphatic aldehydes and ketones is often done under these conditions. The conjugation in the (3-aryl enones provides a driving force for the elimination step. 

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