Ketonization equilibria of phenol in aqueous solution

The two keto tautomers of phenol (1), cyclohexa-2,4-dienone (2) and cyclohexa-2,5-dienone (3), were generated by flash photolysis of appropriate precursors in aqueous solution, and the pH-rate profiles of their enolization reactions, 2 –> 1 and 3 –> 1, were measured. The rates of the reverse reactions, 1 –> 2 and 1 –> 3, were determined from the rates of acid-catalyzed hydron exchange at the ortho- and para-positions of 1; the magnitude of the kinetic isotope effect was assessed by comparing the rates of hydrogenation of phenol-2t and -2d. The ratios of the enolization and ketonization rate constants provide the equilibrium constants of enolization, pK E (2, aq, 25°C) = -12.73 ± 0.12 and pK E (3, aq, 25°C) = -10.98 ± 0.15. Combination with the acidity constant of phenol also defines the acidity constants of 2 and 3 through a thermodynamic cycle. These ketones are remarkably strong carbon acids: pK a (2) = -2.89 ± 0.12 and pK a (3) = -1.14 ± 0.15. They disappear by proton transfer to the solvent with lifetimes, τ(2) = 260 μs and τ(3) = 13 ms, that are insensitive to pH in the range from 3-10.Key words: proton transfer, tautomers, flash photolysis, kinetic isotope effect, pH-rate profiles.