Question

Which of the following compounds would undergo aldol condensation or the Cannizzaro reaction, or neither? Writer the structures of expected products of aldol condensation and Cannizzaro reaction.
i. Methanal ii. 2-Methylpentanal
iii. Benzaldehyde iv. Benzophenone
v. Cyclohexanone vi. 1-Phenylpropanone
vii. Phenylacetaldehye viii. Butan-1-ol
ix. 2,2-Dimethylbutanal

Answer 1

2-Methylpertfanal, cyclohexanon, 1-phenylpropanone and phenylacetaldehyde contain one or more a-hydrogen and hence undergo aldol condensation. The reactions and the structures of the expected products are given below.

Benzophenone (iv) is a ketone having no `alpha`-hydrogen while butan-l-il (viii) is an alcohol. Both of these neigher undergo aldol condensation nor cannizzaro reaction.