The investigation of the relationship between the structure of various alcohols and aldehydes and the rate and extent of the reversible reaction RCHO+ 2R'OH RCH (OR') 2+ HzO has been continued.'It has been often assumed that the effect of a given substituent upon the equilibrium point was qualitatively if not quantitatively constant. There would then be certain groups that might be described as “positive” and others as “negative.” It has ...
