[davidenarb]

Hi

The first step of the aldol reactions deprotonation of the ketone, so the aldol reaction is most efficient when the other side of the ketone has no alpha protons because deprotnation can occur at both locations producing a mixture of aldol addition products.

Will one product predominate over the other?

I know that there is no problem with aldehydes since the aldehydic proton is not acidic.

Does this look right?
Thank you.

[quantumnumber]

If you try to carry out an aldol reaction with an unsymmetrical ketone that have α protons in both sides (without using an enolate equivalent), you will get a mixture of products. If one predominates over the other depends on conditions of the reaction (time, temperature, base or acid used...), but you have a mixture anyway.

If you attempt this with two different ketones that could enolize, then you would have even more products. Bad idea.

[davidenarb]

If you try to carry out an aldol reaction with an unsymmetrical ketone that have α protons in both sides (without using an enolate equivalent), you will get a mixture of products. If one predominates over the other depends on conditions of the reaction (time, temperature, base or acid used...), but you have a mixture anyway.

If you attempt this with two different ketones that could enolize, then you would have even more products. Bad idea.

Are you sure? (sorry for asking that question)

[kriggy]

Indeed.
Do you have specific product in mind?

[quantumnumber]

If you try to carry out an aldol reaction with an unsymmetrical ketone that have α protons in both sides (without using an enolate equivalent), you will get a mixture of products. If one predominates over the other depends on conditions of the reaction (time, temperature, base or acid used...), but you have a mixture anyway.

If you attempt this with two different ketones that could enolize, then you would have even more products. Bad idea.

Are you sure? (sorry for asking that question)

Absolutely. Try to draw the reaction mechanism yourself and you'll see it.

[davidenarb]

If you try to carry out an aldol reaction with an unsymmetrical ketone that have α protons in both sides (without using an enolate equivalent), you will get a mixture of products. If one predominates over the other depends on conditions of the reaction (time, temperature, base or acid used...), but you have a mixture anyway.

If you attempt this with two different ketones that could enolize, then you would have even more products. Bad idea.

Are you sure? (sorry for asking that question)

Absolutely. Try to draw the reaction mechanism yourself and you'll see it.

Indeed.
Do you have specific product in mind?

Thanks both of you. Indeed, both products can be produced. It was clear with the mechanism