Problem Solving Session Aldehydes And Ketones

Concepts to Remember: Aldehydes and Ketones

1. Nucleophilic Addition Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones

• Addition of HCN: formation of cyanohydrins
• Addition of alcohols: formation of hemiacetals and acetals
• Addition of ammonia and its derivatives: formation of imines and enamines
• Addition of Grignard reagents: formation of alcohols

2. Reactions Involving the α-hydrogen of Aldehydes and Ketones

• Acidity of α-hydrogens
• Keto-enol tautomerization
• Aldol condensation
• Crossed aldol condensation
• Knoevenagel condensation

3. Oxidation Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones

• Oxidation to carboxylic acids:
  • Tollens’ reagent
  • Fehling’s solution
  • Benedict’s solution
• Baeyer-Villiger oxidation

4. Reduction Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones

• Reduction to alcohols:
  • NaBH4
  • LiAlH4
• Clemmensen reduction
• Wolf Kishner reduction

5. Haloform Reaction - Formation of haloforms from aldehydes or ketones with specific conditions.

6. Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones - Reactions with electron-rich aromatic compounds, such as benzene, in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst.