Claisen condensation

Claisen condensation is a chemical reaction where two molecules containing carbonyl groups (like in esters or ketones) combine to form a larger molecule, typically resulting in a β-keto ester or a β-diketone. This process involves an initial step where one molecule's alpha hydrogen (a hydrogen next to the carbonyl) is removed, creating an enolate ion. This ion then attacks another molecule's carbonyl carbon, leading to a new carbon-carbon bond. The reaction usually requires a base and sometimes heat, and it’s widely used in organic synthesis to build more complex molecules from simpler ones.