Experimentally to produce 2-ethylpentanal from pentanal, how ...

[TVarnum]

Experimentally to produce 2-ethylpentanal from pentanal, how should the reaction conditions be adjusted to ensure the alpha substitution product rather than the aldol product result or a mixture of the two products?
 a. use a catalytic amount of a relatively weak base
  b. add a full equivalent of a strong base
  c. add the base and alklylation agent simultaneously
  d. add the alkylating agent after the addition of the base
  e. warm the reaction mixture
  f. a and c
  g. b and d
  h. b, d, and e

Question 2

Which of the following will not undergo an aldol condensation reaction?
 a. butanal
  b. 2-methylbutanal
  c. 2, 2-dimethylbutanal
  d. 3, 3-dimethyl-2-butanone
  e. neither c nor d
  f. All will undergo an aldol condensation.

[bulacsom]

Answer to Question 1

g

Answer to Question 2

c

[TVarnum]

TYSM

[bulacsom]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it