Aldol condensation
MCAT glossary · MCAT
Definition
Enolate attacks carbonyl forming β-hydroxy carbonyl; dehydration gives α,β-unsaturated carbonyl.
Aldol condensation in plain English
Think of an aldol condensation as two small carbon-based molecules getting glued together to build a bigger one — it's one of the main ways chemists (and living cells) grow carbon chains. Here's the mechanic: some molecules have a slightly acidic hydrogen sitting right next to a C=O group (a 'carbonyl'). Yank that hydrogen off and you get an 'enolate,' a reactive spot with extra negative charge that acts like a nucleophile — an electron-rich attacker looking for a partner. It slams into the C=O of a second molecule, and you first get a product with both an -OH and a C=O group (a 'beta-hydroxy carbonyl'); then, with a little heat, a water molecule pops off ('dehydration') to leave a nice conjugated C=C next to the C=O. The name says it all: 'aldol' = the alcohol-plus-carbonyl first step, 'condensation' = losing water at the end.
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