Claisen-Schmidt Condensation
A method for obtaining one product from cross aldol addition
The condensation of an aromatic aldehyde (without α-hydrogen) with an aliphatic aldehyde or ketone (have α-hydrogen) in the presence of strong base (hydroxide or alkoxide) leading to the formation of α,β-unsaturated aldehyde or ketone.
Added slowly the carbonyl compound with a-hydrogens to a solution of the carbonyl compound without a-hydrogens and hydroxide ion.
The chance that “with a-hydrogens” will then react with another molecule of the same carbonyl compound will be minimized.
