Aldol
An aldol or aldol adduct is a hydroxy ketone or aldehyde, and is the product of aldol addition.
When used alone, the term "aldol" may also refer specifically to the compound 3-hydroxybutanal.Discovery
The aldol reaction was discovered in 1872 by French chemist Charles-Adolphe Wurtz, and has remained a staple in organic synthesis.
Alexander Borodin is also credited with the discovery of the aldol reaction together with Wurtz. In 1872 Borodin announced to the Russian Chemical Society the discovery of a new byproduct in aldehyde reactions with properties like that of an alcohol, and he noted similarities with compounds already discussed in publications by Wurtz from the same year.
