This is because the benzaldehyde is in excess and the acetaldehyde intermediate 'sees' the benzaldeyhde before another acetaldehyde molecule. The benzaldhyde molecule is unreactive in the NaOH/ethanol/water mixture.
The ratio of the cross product to the required product can be improved by adding the acetaldehyde in solution so that it is more dilute.
This is a common 'trick' in organic chemistry. Some times a dropping funnel is adding the material too slowly and the experimentalist will use a motor driven syringe to add the reagent very, very slowly over many hours.
the crossed aldol condensation of acetaldehyde with benzaldehyde is aided by the face that benzaldehyde bears no alpha protons however a possible competitive reaction is the self condensation of two molecules of acetaldehyde. slow addition of acetaldehyde to a benzaldehyde solution contanining an NaOH/ethanol/water mixture will often result in less self condensation explain?
PLEASE HELP I AM SO CONFUSED?
2 answers
I am also in the process of running this experiment. If I am injecting a 0.12 mL of acetaldehyde, how long would injecting such a small amount into the mixture take. I injected a drop every 5 minutes.
2 answers