A typical experimental setup for an aldol reaction. A solution of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) (in the flask on the right) is being added to a solution of tert-butyl propionate in the flask on the left, forming its lithium enolate. An aldehyde can then be added to initiate an aldol addition reaction. Both flasks are submerged in a dry ice/acetone cooling bath (-78 °C) the temperature of which is being monitored by a thermocouple (the wire on the left).

Click this LINK to visit the original image and attribution information. Right click on the image to save the 800px teaching JPEG.



A typical experimental setup for an aldol reaction. A solution of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) (in the flask on the right) is being added to a solution of tert-butyl propionate in the flask on the left, forming its lithium enolate. An aldehyde can then be added to initiate an aldol addition reaction. Both flasks are submerged in a dry ice/acetone cooling bath (-78 °C) the temperature of which is being monitored by a thermocouple (the wire on the left).