Which of the following compounds undergo Aldol condensation followed by dehydration to give 3-phenylprop-2-en-1-al?

Step-by-step solution

The target product is 3-phenylprop-2-en-1-al, which is cinnamaldehyde. Its structure is C₆H₅-CH=CH-CHO . The structure contains a phenyl group attached to a three-carbon chain with an aldehyde functional group at the end. This indicates that the condensation occurs between an aromatic aldehyde (benzaldehyde) and an aliphatic aldehyde (ethanal). The reaction is a Claisen-Schmidt condensation, a type of crossed aldol condensation. Benzaldehyde ( C₆H₅CHO ) acts as the electrophile because it lacks -hydrogens, and etha