The Claisen condensation is analogous to the
reaction of aldehydes but with esters.

Question

The Claisen condensation is analogous to the 
 reaction of aldehydes but with esters.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The prompt presents a statement about the Claisen condensation and asks for a term to fill in the blank. The key concept here is comparison to a well-known carbonyl condensation.
First, consider what the Claisen condensation involves: it is a base-catalyzed reaction where two ester molecules (typically ethyl or methyl esters) react to form a β-keto ester after deprotonation and acyl transfer steps. This mechanism mirrors the general pattern of a condensation between carbonyl-containing compounds.
Next, recall the aldol condensation, which describes the reaction of aldehydes (and sometimes ketones) under basic or acidic conditions to form a β-hydroxy carbonyl compound, which can dehydrate to give an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound. The similarity lies in the formation of a new C–C bond at the β-position relative to the carbonyl and in the stepwise sequence of enolate formation, nucleophilic attack, and a subsequent condensation/dehydration step.
Given this parallel, the Claisen condensation is commonly described as being analogous to the aldol condensation, but with esters taking the place of aldehydes (or ketones) as the reacting carbonyl partners. The phrasing emphasizes that both reactions proceed via enolate or enolizable species and share the same strategic build-up of a new carbon–carbon bond, followed by a condensation step.
With that understanding, the term that completes the statement is aldol condensation, since it is the textbook analogue for aldehydes/ketones in contrast to esters in the Claisen reaction. This comparison helps students recognize the structural and mechanistic parallels between the two foundational carbonyl condensations, even though the substrates differ.
If one were to consider alternative phrases or related named reactions, note that the Claisen is sometimes discussed alongside malonic ester synthesis or Dieckmann condensation as ester-focused analogues, but the direct analogy to the carbonyl partner in the aldehyde/ketone domain remains the aldol condensation for aldehydes.

CHE 008B A01 SS1 2025 Lecture 14 - Claisen Condensation

The Claisen condensation is analogous to the reaction of aldehydes but with esters.

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