Instructions: a,b-Unsaturated aldehydes and ketones can undergo reaction with nucleophiles at the b carbon, as shown below. Use this information to answer the following question(s). Refer to instructions. This reaction is called a(n) _____ reaction.

Question

Instructions: a,b-Unsaturated aldehydes and ketones can undergo reaction with nucleophiles at the b carbon, as shown below. Use this information to answer the following question(s).  Refer to instructions. This reaction is called a(n) _____ reaction.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The given reaction involves the addition of a nucleophile to the beta carbon of an unsaturated aldehyde or ketone. This type of reaction is called conjugate addition, as the nucleophile attacks the beta carbon (conjugated with the carbonyl group) of the unsaturated system. The other options, electrophilic addition and direct addition, do not accurately describe the reaction mechanism involved in this scenario. 1,2-Addition is a similar process, but it typically involves attack at the alpha carbon, rather than the beta carbon. Thus, the best choice is A, conjugate addition.

Instructions: A,b-Unsaturated Aldehydes and Ketones Can Undergo Reaction with Nucleophiles