Abstract: The reaction of@ alkoxy ketone 7 to form enone alcohol 14 is readily reversible, and the equilibrium amount of 14 in aqueous solution is 6%. Like the previously studied irreversible dehydration of@-keto1 17, the conversion 7-14 occurs by an ElcB, mechanism at low general base catalyst concentration ([B]) and by an ElcBR mechanism at high [B]. This conclusion, based initially on curvature in the plots of koW vs.[B], was confirmed by direct ...
