Question

K for enolization of 2,4-cyclohexadienone is about 1013. Explain why the enol is so much more stable than the keto tautomer.

Answer 1

Answer:

Because the value of K is huge.

Explanation:

The tautomer is a kind of isomer in which exist an equilibrium between a ketone and an enol, or between an aldehyde and an enol. So, in the enolization, the ketone is the reactant and the enol is the product.

The equilibrium reaction can be characterized by an equilibrium constant, which is the ratio of the concentration of the products by the concentration of the reactants.

Because the constant K is extremely large (10¹³) we can conclude that the concentration of the product will be greater than the concentration of the reactant, in the equilibrium. It means that the concentration of the enol will be greater.

So, the ketone is unstable and forms in a great amount the more stable product, the enol.