Aldehydes and ketones

This chapter concentrates on the chemistry of aldehydes (RCHO) and ketones (RCOR) and how they react in nucleophilic addition reactions. An aldehyde contains a C=O group bonded to at least one hydrogen atom, whereas a ketone has a carbonyl group bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups. The chapter illustrates general mechanisms for a nucleophilic addition reaction, an α-substitution reaction, and a carbonyl–carbonyl condensation reaction and mechanisms for nucleophilic addition reactions of aldehydes and ketones using reagents. It discusses keto–enol tautomerism and the factors that influence the stability of keto and enol forms. The structure of a product derived from a nucleophilic addition, an α-substitution, or a carbonyl–carbonyl condensation reaction of an aldehyde or ketone are also covered.