Aldol condensation reactions are a vital component of the Organic Chemistry curriculum. There are many aldol condensation labs that deal with cross condensation and some with self-condensation. To date, we have been unable to find an aldol reaction demonstrating the addition step as an isolatable intermediate. The reaction wants to continue with the natural reaction which is elimination. Generally, aldol reactions are relatively quick and easy to run. We aim to stop the aldol reaction prior to the elimination step in order to obtain an infrared spectrum and a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum for comparison to the final product. Background research has led us to reactions that can be stopped and preliminary data of these reactions stopped at the addition stage will be presented. This step will be carefully crafted into a sophomore Organic Chemistry instructional lab and this work is to be submitted for peer-review. as an easily run undergraduate lab experiment for publication. <br/>

Aldol reactions: A lab aimed at second semester organic chemistry

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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