Equilibrium constants for a series of simple aldol condensations, and linear free energy relations with other carbonyl addition reactions

Abstract

A set of equilibrium constants for aldol condensations of acetaldehyde, acetone, acetophenone, and acetic acid as nucleophiles and formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, acetone, and acetophenone as carbonyl acceptors has been evaluated. The four values determined, directly or indirectly, by experiment have been augmented by values calculated from thermo-chemical data and equilibrium constants for enone hydration, and by estimation of free energies of formation of the reaction products by use of hypothetical disproportionation reactions. When the carbonyl nucleophiles are compared to other nucleophiles which can add to carbonyl compounds, it is found that they can be incorporated in the linear free energy relationship of Sander and Jencks, with γ values of 0.45 for acetaldehyde, 0.16 for acetone, 0.05 for acetophenone, and 3.56 for acetic acid. These results make it possible to predict the equilibrium constants for any of a large number of aldol condensations from the equilibrium constant for the addition of any nucleophile to the carbonyl accepter compound.