Convert the following (ii) Ethanal to but-2-enal.

Explanation

To convert ethanal (CH₃CHO) to but-2-enal (CH₃CH=CHCHO), we can use the aldol condensation reaction. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process:

### Step 1: Identify the Reactants
We start with ethanal (acetaldehyde), which has the structure CH₃CHO. We need to create a compound with four carbon atoms, specifically but-2-enal.

### Step 2: Perform Aldol Condensation
1. **React ethanal with itself**: In the presence of a base (like NaOH), ethanal undergoes self-condensation. The base will abstract a proton from the alpha carbon of one ethanal molecule, forming an enolate ion.

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