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Aldehydes and Ketones with Alcohols: Hemiacetal Formation

Aldehydes and Ketones with Alcohols: Hemiacetal Formation

Similar to water, alcohols can add to the carbonyl carbon of the aldehydes and ketones. The addition of one molecule of alcohol to the carbonyl compound forms the hemiacetal or half acetal. As depicted below, in a hemiacetal, the carbon is directly linked to an OH and OR group.

Base-Catalyzed Aldol Addition Reaction

Base-Catalyzed Aldol Addition Reaction

As depicted in Figure 1, base-catalyzed aldol addition involves adding two carbonyl compounds in aqueous sodium hydroxide to form a β-hydroxy carbonyl compound.

Acid-Catalyzed Aldol Addition Reaction

Acid-Catalyzed Aldol Addition Reaction

The aldol reaction of a ketone under acidic conditions successfully forms an unsaturated carbonyl as the final product instead of an aldol. The acid-catalyzed aldol reaction is depicted in Figure 1.

Oxidations of Aldehydes and Ketones to Carboxylic Acids

Oxidations of Aldehydes and Ketones to Carboxylic Acids

Oxidation of aldehydes and ketones results in the formation of carboxylic acids. Aldehydes, bearing hydrogen next to the carbonyl group, are easily oxidized compared to ketones. This is because an aldehydic proton can easily be abstracted during oxidation.
Aldehydes readily undergo oxidation in strong oxidizing agents such as potassium permanganate and chromic acid. The oxidation can also be carried out using mild oxidizing agents such as silver oxide. In fact, aldehydes can be easily oxidized...

Preparation of Aldehydes and Ketones from Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

Preparation of Aldehydes and Ketones from Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

Aldehydes are more reactive than carboxylic acids and hence, can get over-reduced to alcohol in the presence of strong reducing agents. Therefore, carboxylic acids are inefficient in preparing aldehydes using LAH.
Carboxylic acid derivatives like acid chlorides and esters are more easily reducible than the corresponding acids. The derivatives reduce in the presence of mild reducing agents to give aldehydes. Aldehydes can also be prepared by Rosenmund reduction, that is, the reduction of...

Preparation of Aldehydes and Ketones from Alcohols, Alkenes, and Alkynes

Preparation of Aldehydes and Ketones from Alcohols, Alkenes, and Alkynes

Aldehydes and ketones are prepared from alcohols, alkenes, and alkynes via different reaction pathways. Alcohols are the most commonly used substrates for synthesizing aldehydes and ketones. The conversion of alcohol to aldehyde, which involves the oxidation process, depends on the class of the alcohol used and the strength of the oxidizing agent. For instance, primary alcohol will form an aldehyde when treated with a weak oxidizing agent; however, it gets over-oxidized to a carboxylic acid in...

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Updated: Jul 15, 2025

A Toolkit to Enable Hydrocarbon Conversion in Aqueous Environments

A Toolkit to Enable Hydrocarbon Conversion in Aqueous Environments

Published on: October 2, 2012

The Development of Aldehyde Catalytic System.

Jinli Chen¹, Xiaoqun Yang¹, Yixian Huang¹

¹National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticides, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University. Huaxi District, Guiyang, 550025, China.

Chemistry, an Asian Journal

|September 27, 2023

Summary

Aldehydes are versatile catalysts in organic chemistry, driving challenging reactions. This review explores their use in organocatalysis, metal catalysis, and photochemistry, summarizing recent advancements.

Keywords:

Carbonyl catalysis achiral aldehydes chiral aldehydes organocatalysts

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Last Updated: Jul 15, 2025

A Toolkit to Enable Hydrocarbon Conversion in Aqueous Environments

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Area of Science:

Organic Chemistry
Catalysis
Photochemistry

Background:

Aldehydes are recognized for their catalytic capabilities in organic synthesis.
Challenging chemical transformations often require efficient catalytic systems.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the diverse applications of aldehydes in catalysis.
To highlight advancements in aldehyde-mediated organocatalysis, transition metal catalysis, and photochemical initiation.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent studies on aldehyde catalysts.
Categorization of applications into organocatalysis, metal catalysis, and photochemistry.

Main Results:

Aldehydes function effectively as organocatalysts.
Synergistic effects are observed in aldehyde/transition metal catalytic systems.
Aldehydes serve as efficient photochemical initiators.

Conclusions:

Aldehyde catalysis offers a powerful toolkit for organic chemists.
Future research holds promise for novel aldehyde-based catalytic systems.