Aldol condensation is a property of carbonyl compounds having hydrogen at α− carbon atom. Aldol means aldehyde and alcohol groups on the same molecule. It may occur between two aldehydes or ketones in the presence of a catalytic base. The reaction is only possible between two components having α− hydrogen.
When cyclohexanone undergoes aldol condensation in the presence of a base, it will produce a β− hydroxy ketone.
When cyclohexanone undergoes aldol condensation followed by heating, the product formed is represented by the option (b).
Mechanism:
