Effects of substituents on transformations of 4-(phenylethynyl) benzaldehydes and related benzaldehydes were analyzed in aldol and thiazolidine formation reactions. The aldol reaction of 4-cyanobenzaldehyde was 54-fold faster than that of 4-methoxybenzaldehyde. In contrast, the aldol reaction of 4-(4-cyanophenylethynyl) benzaldehyde was only 1.4-fold faster than that of 4-(4-methoxyphenylethynyl) benzaldehyde. Electronic features of ...