Final answer:
The aldol condensation of cyclohexanone involves deprotonation to form an enolate, nucleophilic attack to create the aldol adduct, and dehydration to yield the α,β-unsaturated ketone product.
Step-by-step explanation:
The aldol condensation reaction of cyclohexanone under basic conditions (hydroxide and water) follows a specific mechanism. First, a base deprotonates the α-proton of cyclohexanone, generating a nucleophilic enolate. This enolate can then attack another molecule of cyclohexanone at the electrophilic carbonyl carbon to form a β-hydroxy ketone, also known as the aldol adduct.
Finally, a dehydration step ensues, often via an E1cB or E2 mechanism, where water is eliminated to form an α,β-unsaturated ketone. The aldol product and the dehydration step are essential components of this condensation reaction, leading to the formation of a carbon-carbon bond, which is a valuable transformation in synthetic organic chemistry.