Acid catalyzed aldol condensation in the gas phase

The gas phase reaction of acetaldehyde with a Brønsted acid in a chemical ionization source yields protonated crotonaldehyde, as shown by its collisional activation mass spectrum. This is thus analogous to the well known aldol condensation in solution, in which the initial aldol adduct loses water to yield crotonaldehyde. The possibility of a common mechanism for the gas phase and solution reactions is discussed.