Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Aldehyde Reactivity
Aldehydes are highly reactive due to the presence of a carbonyl group (C=O), which is polarized, making the carbon atom electrophilic. This allows them to readily undergo nucleophilic addition reactions, particularly with amines, leading to the formation of imines or enamines depending on the reaction conditions.
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Amine Nucleophilicity
Amines are nucleophiles because they contain a lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom, which can attack electrophilic centers such as the carbonyl carbon in aldehydes. The strength of the nucleophilic attack can be influenced by the structure of the amine (primary, secondary, or tertiary) and the reaction conditions, such as the presence of an acid catalyst.
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Acid-Catalyzed Reactions
In acid-catalyzed reactions, the presence of an acid (H+) can enhance the electrophilicity of the carbonyl carbon in aldehydes, facilitating the nucleophilic attack by amines. The acid can also protonate the amine, increasing its nucleophilicity and promoting the formation of the product, which in this case is likely an imine.
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