Identify the major product T formed in the following reaction:

Step-by-step solution

The given reaction is a crossed aldol condensation (specifically, Claisen-Schmidt condensation) between benzaldehyde and acetone in the presence of a base ( OH^- ). Benzaldehyde lacks -hydrogens, so it cannot form an enolate ion. Acetone has -hydrogens and forms an enolate ion in the presence of the base. The base abstracts an -proton from acetone to form the enolate: CH₃COCH₃ + OH^- CH₃COCH₂^- + H₂O The nucleophilic enolate ion then attacks the electrophilic carbonyl carbon of benzaldehyde: C₆H₅CHO + CH₃COCH₂^- C₆