ONDENSATION REACTIONS

This polymerization can be looked upon as a special case of cationic polymerization. It is particularly true when weak acids are added to the reaction mixture, as is often the case in industrial practice. In hydrolytic polymerizations of lactams initiated by water, the hydrolysi ondensation equilibria determine the concentrations of the amine and the carboxylic acid groups. Both functional groups participate in the propagation reactions ... 

Explain why the main reaction between acetophenone and p-anisaldehyde is the mixed-aldol reaction rather than (a) selfCannizzaro reaction (Sec. 16.3) of p-anisaldehyde. 

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