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Aldol addition template
Free template. Download it, or open it in MolDraw to change it first.
Enolate formation, attack on a second aldehyde and protonation, with the new C–C bond marked.
Mechanism step by step
Base-catalysed C–C bond formation between two carbonyl compounds
- Enolate formation – Hydroxide removes an α-H
- Nucleophilic addition – The enolate carbon attacks C=O
- Protonation – Water regenerates hydroxide
Key points
- Needs an α-hydrogen: the enolate is the nucleophile, a second carbonyl the electrophile.
- Kept cold, the β-hydroxy aldehyde (the aldol) is isolated.
- Heating dehydrates it to the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde (aldol condensation, E1cB).
- Crossed aldols work best when one partner cannot enolise (e.g. benzaldehyde).
Drawn with 49 atoms, 12 arrows, 9 shapes – every one editable in MolDraw.
Sources
How to use this template
- Press Edit in MolDraw. The template opens on the canvas of the free MolDraw editor.
- Change anything: move structures, edit atoms and labels, recolour highlights or delete what you do not need.
- Add your own structures, arrows and text next to it, or combine several templates on one page.
- Export the drawing as PNG, SVG or PDF for slides, worksheets, theses and papers.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Aldol addition template free?
Yes. The Aldol addition template is one of the free MolDraw templates: open it in the editor or download it from this page as SVG or PNG and use it in your slides, worksheets and notes.
Can I edit the Aldol addition template?
Yes. It opens as an ordinary MolDraw drawing, so every structure, arrow, label and colour can be changed, and you can add your own content around it.
Is the chemistry checked?
Every structure is checked with RDKit and every curly arrow passes MolDraw’s electron-flow audit. The sources used are listed on this page.
What is a curly-arrow mechanism template?
A ready-made drawing of a reaction mechanism in which curved arrows show where electron pairs move in each step. You can open it in MolDraw, change the substrate and reuse it.