The reaction of benzaldehyde and acetone to yield dibenzalacetone is indeed referred to as an aldol condensation. In this reaction, benzaldehyde acts as an aldehyde, while acetone is a ketone. The process involves two key steps: aldol addition followed by dehydration.
Mechanism Overview:
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Aldol Addition: Under basic conditions, acetone forms an enolate ion, which then nucleophilically attacks the carbonyl carbon of benzaldehyde. This leads to the formation of a β-hydroxy ketone intermediate, known as an aldol.
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Dehydration: The β-hydroxy ketone undergoes dehydration, losing a molecule of water to form dibenzalacetone, an unsaturated ketone.
Reaction Equation:
The overall reaction can be summarized as follows:
\[ 2 \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CHO} + \text{C}3\text{H}6\text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}{15}\text{H}{14}\text{O} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \]
Where:
- \(\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{CHO}\): Benzaldehyde
- \(\text{C}_3\text{H}_6\text{O}\): Acetone
- \(\text{C}{15}\text{H}{14}\text{O}\): Dibenzalacetone
References:
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Organic Chemistry Textbooks: This reaction is often covered in standard organic chemistry textbooks, such as:
- Morrison, R. T., & Boyd, R. N. (2015). Organic Chemistry (7th ed.). Pearson.
- Wade, L. G. (2017). Organic Chemistry (9th ed.). Pearson.
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Peer-Reviewed Articles: The specific details and conditions for performing aldol condensation reactions can be found in various organic chemistry research articles.
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Online Educational Resources: Websites like Khan Academy and Organic Chemistry Wiki provide illustrative examples and explanations of aldol condensation:
- Khan Academy: Aldol Condensation
- Organic Chemistry Wiki: Aldol Reaction
This reaction is a classic example frequently studied in organic chemistry, and it illustrates important principles of reactivity and bond formation.