This is a comprehensive practice problem on the alpha carbon/enolate chemistry. The topics covered range from the simple halogenation reactions of enols to multistep synthetic transformations.
To correctly answer these questions, you need to review the main principles of enolate chemistry – direct enolate alkylation, aldol condensation, crossed aldol condensation, alkylation using acetoacetic ester synthesis, malonic ester synthesis, the Stork enamine synthesis, Claisen condensation, Michael addition, and Robinson annulation.
Check the links below if you are looking for practice problems on specific topics in alpha carbon chemistry:
- Aldol Addition and Condensation Reactions – Practice Problems
- Crossed Aldol Condensation Practice Problems
- Enolate Alkylation Practice Problems
- Acetoacetic Ester Enolates Practice Problems
- Decarboxylation
- Michael Reaction: The Conjugate Addition of Enolates
- Claisen Condensation Practice Problems
- Stork Enamine Synthesis



The colored molecules are very helpful for understanding these reactions. Thank you!
Hello,
Yes, color-coding does help significantly with keeping track of carbons and all the changes in general.