Aldol

Main article: Aldol reaction

Generalized structure of the aldol moiety: When R3 is -H, it is a β-hydroxy aldehyde, otherwise it is a β-hydroxy ketone.

An aldol or aldol adduct (from "Aldehyde alcohol") is a beta-hydroxy ketone or aldehyde, and is the product of aldol addition (as opposed to aldol condensation, which produces an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl moiety).

When used alone, the term "aldol" may also refer specifically to the compound 3-hydroxybutanal.

Discovery

The aldol reaction was discovered in 1872 by French chemist Charles-Adolphe Wurtz, and has remained a staple in organic synthesis.

Alexander Borodin is also credited with the discovery of the aldol reaction together with Wurtz. In 1872 Borodin announced to the Russian Chemical Society the discovery of a new byproduct in aldehyde reactions with properties like that of an alcohol, and he noted similarities with compounds already discussed in publications by Wurtz from the same year.