Question

What is the product of 4-ethoxybenzaldehyde and acetone?

Answer 1

The product is `(1Z,4Z)"-1,4-bis(4-ethoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one"`.

Explanation:

It looks like you are doing a crossed aldol condensation.

The aldehyde has no acidic α-hydrogen.

However, the hydrogen atoms of both methyl groups in acetone are acidic.

The general equation for the reaction is

`"ArCH(=O)"+ "CH"_3"C(=O)CH"_3 + "(O=)CHAr" → "ArCH=CHC(=O)CH=CHAr" + 2"H"_2"O"`

The trans-double bonds are more stable than cis.

Thus, if the aryl group is 4-ethoxyphenyl, the product is

`(1Z,4Z)"-1,4-bis(4-ethoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one"`