Hydroxy ketone

Chemicals in this group can be classified by the position of the hydroxyl relative to the ketone.

Thus, the general structure of the two main classes are R−C(=O)−CH(OH)−R" (alpha) and R−C(=O)−CH2−CH(OH)−R' (beta).

[1] They are commonly formed by condensation or reductive coupling of two carbonyl (C=O) compounds or oxidation of ketones.

If the alcohol is primary, alpha-hydroxy ketones give a positive Fehling's test.

They are commonly formed by an aldol reaction between two carbonyl compounds.