The Aldol reaction is a fundamental organic chemistry process where two aldehydes or ketones react in the presence of a base to form a β-hydroxy carbonyl compound. This reaction involves the formation of an enolate ion from one carbonyl compound, which then attacks the carbonyl carbon of another, leading to a new carbon-carbon bond. After the initial aldol addition, the β-hydroxy carbonyl can undergo dehydration to yield an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound. This transformation is significant in synthetic organic chemistry, as it allows for the construction of complex molecules and is often used in the synthesis of natural products and pharmaceuticals.