🥼organic chemistry review

Aldol reaction

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

The Aldol reaction is a chemical reaction in organic chemistry where two aldehydes or ketones, or one of each, react together in the presence of a base to form a β-hydroxyaldehyde or β-hydroxyketone. It is a fundamental process for forming carbon-carbon bonds and is widely used in the synthesis of complex molecules.

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