Question

What is the product of the following reaction?

Short answer

A carbonyl compound with hydrogen is added slowly to a carbonyl compound without hydrogen and base. Without hydrogen, the carbonyl compound first changesinto an enolate ion and then reacts with the carbonyl compound having hydrogen. The resulting molecule loses water molecule and forms a conjugated double bond with a benzene ring and carbonyl compound.

Step-by-step solution

Claisen-Schmidt condensation

A carbonyl compound with hydrogen is added slowly to a carbonyl compound without hydrogen and base. Without hydrogen, the carbonyl compound first changesinto an enolate ion and then reacts with the carbonyl compound having hydrogen. The resulting molecule loses water molecule and forms a conjugated double bond with a benzene ring and carbonyl compound.

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