Is it common on the MCAT to see that in crossed aldol condensations, one of the products will not have the alpha carbon so that we wouldn't have to decide which one would be the nucleophile?
Is it common on the MCAT to see that in crossed aldol condensations, one of the products will not have the alpha carbon so that we wouldn't have to decide which one would be the nucleophile?
Did you mean not have the alpha hydrogen? Because it's possible to have an alpha carbon and not have any hydrogens attached to it. Not sure if it's common on the MCAT, but I have seen it many times in my orgo course, so yes it's definitely possible. If it doesn't have an alpha hydrogen, then it can't become an enolate ion, and therefore, it must be the substrate.
But I suppose this can happen with a formaldehyde as well that has no alpha carbons.
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