Propanal reacts with dilute NaOH to form a -hydroxy aldehyde. How many chiral carbon atoms are present in the major product of this reaction?

Step-by-step solution

Propanal ( CH ₃ CH ₂ CHO ) undergoes a self-aldol addition reaction in the presence of dilute NaOH . The -carbon of one propanal molecule loses a proton to form an enolate, which then attacks the carbonyl carbon of another propanal molecule. The reaction is: CH ₃ CH ₂ CHO + CH ₃ CH ₂ CHO dil. NaOH CH ₃- CH ₂- CH ( OH )- CH ( CH ₃)- CHO The IUPAC name of the product is 3-hydroxy-2-methylpentanal. Let us examine the chiral centers in this molecule: 1. The C-2 carbon is attached to four different groups: - H , - CH ₃