Question

How many alpha-hydorgens are required for a Claisen condensation to be successful and why?

Answer 1

Question:

How many alpha-hydorgens are required for a Claisen condensation to be successful and why?

Answer:

Two alpha-hydorgens (not one) are required for a Claisen condensation. The presence of two protons necessary for forming resonance-stabilized enolate anion, which in the last step is converted $\beta$ -keto ester:

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