Sir: Because ketones are readily deprotonated to their enolates under many preparatively useful conditions, a literature search of the selective chemistry of ketone enolates produces a magnificent wealth of information. The converse is true for aldehydes. In efforts to de- protonate aldehydes, the enolate generated promptly un- dergoes an aldol or Michael condensation with more al- dehyde. The powerful acceptor properties of aldehydes dominate their ...
