stygian - 16-9-2007 at 19:35
I'm no chemist but what little I know seems to tell me that one could synthesize this quite easily from benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde
enolate + Benzaldehyde -hydrolysis-> P2p-diol. So is it possible? Possible but with complications? Not a very good idea at all?
[Edited on by stygian]
Sergei_Eisenstein - 17-9-2007 at 09:33
The aldol reaction of benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde will theoretically yield cinnamaldehyde, proceeding over beta-hydroxyhydrocinnamaldehyde. Also, I
have been told that it generally is a bad idea to use acetaldehyde in enolate chemistry, as it is too reactive.