MCAT Question A Day - 4/24/14 - Answer!
Acetone and acetaldehyde in the presence of a strong base will yield which of the following?
A. Two different b-hydroxyaldehydes
B. Four different b-hydroxycarbonyl compounds
C. Two different b-hydroxyketones
D. Three different b-hydroxycarbonyl compounds
The correct answer is (B). Because both reactants contain acidic a-H’s, two different carbanions will form and attack the carbonyl groups in condensation reactions.
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