noun
- An organic compound containing both an aldehyde group and a hydroxyl group, typically formed by the condensation of two aldehyde or ketone molecules.
Usage: chemistry; technical term
Examples
- The aldol reaction is a fundamental transformation in organic synthesis.
- Acetaldol is the simplest aldol compound, formed from two molecules of acetaldehyde.
- Chemists use aldol condensation to build carbon-carbon bonds in the laboratory.
- The aldol product can be further dehydrated to form an unsaturated compound.
- Many natural products are synthesized using aldol reactions as key steps.