Chemistry - Carbonyl compounds Question with Solution | TestHub
How many condensation products are possible when ethanal and phenyl ethanal (mixture) is treated with dil. NaOH/Δ?
Answer:
Solution:
* Reaction type: This is an aldol condensation reaction involving a mixture of two aldehydes with -hydrogens: ethanal (CH₃CHO) and phenyl ethanal (PhCH₂CHO).
* Structural products: Both aldehydes can form carbanions and act as electrophiles, yielding 4 distinct structural products via self-condensation (2) and cross-condensation (2).
* Stereoisomers: Every single structural product contains a carbon-carbon double bond (C=C) with different substituents attached to each carbon.
* Final calculation: Since each of the 4 structural products exhibits geometrical isomerism, each gives 2 isomers (cis/trans or E/Z), resulting in total products.
