🥼organic chemistry review

Keto–enol tautomerism

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Keto–enol tautomerism is a chemical equilibrium between a keto form (containing a carbonyl group -C=O) and an enol form (containing a hydroxyl group -OH attached to a carbon-carbon double bond) of a compound. This process involves the movement of an alpha hydrogen and the reorganization of bonding electrons, which allows the interconversion between the two forms.

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