Question

1-Butanol is prepared commercially by a route that begins with an aldol reaction. Show the steps that are likely to be involved.

Short answer

The reaction includes aldol condensation followed by reduction using suitable reagents.

Step-by-step solution

Aldol Condensation

Aldol condensation of ethanol in the presence of a base like NaOH and then heating the compound gives:

Hydrogenation Reaction

Now reduction is done by selective reducing agent NaBH₄and followed by hydrogenation reaction in presence of Pd/Pt give 1-butanol: