Enolate chemistry involves the formation and reactivity of enolates, which are nucleophilic species derived from carbonyl compounds like aldehydes and ketones. When a carbonyl compound is treated with a strong base, it can lose a proton from the alpha carbon, resulting in the formation of an enolate ion. This ion can then participate in various reactions, such as nucleophilic addition to electrophiles. Enolates are crucial in many organic reactions, including the aldol reaction and Michael addition. Their ability to act as nucleophiles allows for the formation of new carbon-carbon bonds, making enolate chemistry a valuable tool in synthetic organic chemistry for constructing complex molecules.