ADDITION TO ALDEHYDES AND KETONES

Because of the considerable constribution of structures of the type of II to the total structure of carbonyl
compounds,

The carbon atomhas marked electrophilic character. Therefore, addition reaction to carbonyl
compounds almost aviriabl involve the attack of a necleophilic reagent on the carbonyl carbon atom.
Under acidic conditions the arbonyl compound may be transformed partially into its conjugate acid, in
which the atom carbon atom is much more strongly electrophilic.

That is, IV contributes more the total structure of te conjugate acid than II (in whicw there is charge
separation ) does to structure of the carbonyl compound itself. Thus carbonyl addition reaction may be
catalyzed by acids, since the acids convert the carbonyl compound to a form that is more reactive
toward necleophilic reagents. Even the partial donations of a proton to the carbonyl group, as in a
hydrogen-bonded complex with an acid, would be expected to increase its eletrophilicity.
11-1. Addition of water and alcohols.
11-1a. hydrates of aldehydes and ketones. Any electron-donating group attached to a carbonyl group
will derease its eletrophilicity and stabilize it by distributing the positif charge. This stabilizing influence,
and the convers destabilizing influence of electron-withdrawing group, is replected in the extent to
which aldehydes and ketones form hydrates. In dilute aqueous solution at 20
o
formaldehyde