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.