What is the product of a mixed aldol condensation?

The product of a mixed aldol condensation reaction is a complex mixture of both dimeric aldols and crossed aldols. A mixed aldol condensation is a reaction between different carbonyl reactants. In a typical mixed aldol condensation reaction, four different carbonyl derivatives are formed.

The only type of mixed aldol condensation reactions that tend to produce a single product are reactions between ketones and aryl aldehydes. This type of reaction is called a Claisen-Schmidt reaction.

Chemical reactions in which a larger molecule is formed from smaller molecules, with the elimination of a very small by-product such as water, are called condensation reactions. A aldol is a beta-hydroxy ketone, or aldehyde.