- #1
brake4country
- 216
- 7
Homework Statement
In a typical aldol condensation (say 2 aldehydes reacted with NaOH, water, and under heated conditions) why is hydroxide considered a good leaving group in the final step?
Homework Equations
NA
The Attempt at a Solution
I drew out a mechanism with an aldehyde and a ketone, creating the aldol product. From here, heat is added and hydroxide is protonated in solution to leave behind a carbanion on the alpha carbon. Once the double bond is created by the electrons OH is push off. How is OH a good leaving group in this case?