Chemistry 332 - Spring 1996
Elements of Organic Chemistry II
Quiz, Chapter 11 - Condensation Reactions
1. (6 points) Identify what the likely starting materials would have been
in each of the following condensation reactions. All involve addition or
substitution of some alpha-nucleophile with either a carbonyl compound or
carboxyl derivative.
a) 
A Claisen condensation with ethyl butanoate.
b) 
An aldol condensation with acetone, followed by dehydration.
c) 
An internal aldol reaction, analogous to the Dieckmann condensation.
2. (4 points) Write a complete mechanism for the aldol reaction of cyclopentanone
with sodium hydroxide as base.
