How does an aldol condensation differ from an aldol addition?

• It adds a second enolate to the product
• It runs without any carbonyl partner
• It follows addition with dehydration to an enone

What is the product of an aldol addition?

• A beta-hydroxy carbonyl compound
• A beta-keto ester
• A conjugated diene with no oxygen

Ketones stop at the addition product under the addition conditions because they have no group able to leave.

Why can mixing two different carbonyl partners give four products?

• Because each partner can play either role
• Because aldol products always split in two
• Because heating doubles every molecule

An ester enolate attacks another ester. What forms?

• A beta-hydroxy carbonyl that cannot change further
• A beta-keto ester after alkoxide leaves
• Two unchanged esters plus water

Which partner makes a clean acceptor for a crossed aldol?

• An aldehyde with no alpha hydrogens
• A ketone with two different alpha positions
• An ester enolate in large excess

A crossed aldol of two enolisable aldehydes gives a mess. What had to be controlled?

• The temperature of the room
• Which partner enolises and which accepts
• The colour of the reaction flask

An enone is cut at its alpha-beta bond for retrosynthesis. Where did each side come from?

• The carbonyl side was the acceptor and the beta side the donor
• The carbonyl side was the donor and the beta side the acceptor
• Both sides came from a single Claisen donor