Question

The b-hydroxy carbonyl product of an Aldol reaction is oftentimes not the final isolated product; what is the explanation for this

Multiple Choice
O Hydroxide is eliminated via an enolate intermediate
O The hydroxy group is oxidized to a carbonyl
O The hydroxy group reacts with the carbonyl to form a ketal.
O It undergoes elimination, since water is a good leaving group

Answer 1

The β-hydroxy carbonyl product of an Aldol reaction is not the final isolated product due to elimination, where water acts as a good leaving group. The resulting compound is an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde or ketone.

option a is the correct

Step-by-step explanation:

The reason why the β-hydroxy carbonyl product of an Aldol reaction is oftentimes not the final isolated product is because it can undergo elimination, since water is a good leaving group.

This elimination occurs via an enolate intermediate, where the hydroxide group is eliminated, resulting in an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde or ketone. The formation of this unsaturated compound is favored due to the stability of the double bond.