Conversion of Benzaldehyde to cinnamic acid

Explanation

To convert benzaldehyde to cinnamic acid, we will follow the steps of the Novikov reaction, which involves the reaction of benzaldehyde with malonic acid in the presence of a base. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process:

### Step 1: Preparation of the Enolate Ion
1. **React Malonic Acid with a Base**:
- Start with malonic acid (CH₂(COOH)₂) and treat it with a strong organic base (like sodium ethoxide or sodium hydroxide).
- The base will deprotonate one of the methylene protons (the hydrogen atoms on the carbon between the two carboxylic acid groups) to form an enolate ion.
- **Reaction**:
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