Hi, I'm just learning the Aldol Condensation mechanism and in one video it's says under basic catalytic conditions the final product is usually the Aldol. Only under acidic conditions will the Aldol react further to form the a,b unsaturated compound.

 

But on another video (by a different person) she says that by adding heat you can do the condensation under basic conditions as a molecule of OH- will deprotanate the alpha proton forming a pi bond between the alpha and beta carbons and kicking off the OH group.

 

The first video must be wrong in saying that under basic conditions you stop at the Aldol product?

 

 

I'm not planning to do this reaction just learning it out of interest. Any advice would great as the two videos seem to be telling me different things?

 

I have attached screenshots from the two videos.

Dehydration product is formed in both conditions on heating ...it is the elimination of alpha H by base (basic condition)or protonation of OH by acid (in acidic condition)