Enolate ion

Definition

An enolate ion is a negatively charged intermediate formed from the deprotonation of an alpha carbon adjacent to a carbonyl group in aldehydes and ketones. It plays a crucial role in various organic reactions, including nucleophilic addition and substitution reactions.

Related terms

Keto: Enol Tautomerism - The equilibrium between keto and enol forms of carbonyl compounds where hydrogen and double bond positions are rearranged.

Alpha Carbon:

The carbon atom directly attached to a functional group such as a carbonyl group, significant for its chemical reactivity.

Nucleophile:

A chemical species that donates an electron pair to form a chemical bond in relation to its reaction with an electrophile