Final answer:
The general mechanism for 1,4-addition products to an alpha beta unsaturated carbonyl compound involves nucleophilic addition to the carbonyl group followed by regeneration of the carbonyl group through the elimination of the anion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general mechanism for 1,4-addition products to an alfa beta unsaturated carbonyl compound involves two main steps. First, the nucleophilic addition to the carbonyl group occurs, similar to nucleophilic addition reactions. This results in the formation of an intermediate. Second, the carbonyl group is regenerated through the elimination of the anion, which leads to the final 1,4-addition product.
An example of this mechanism is the aldol addition reaction. In the aldol reaction, a carbonyl compound with an α-proton reacts with another carbonyl compound to form an aldol adduct, which undergoes dehydration to produce the 1,4-addition product.