Water elimination from the keto and enol tautomers of ionised ethylacetate

Abstract

The keto and enol forms of ionised ethylacetate both lose H2O to generate the keto and enol ions of methylvinylketone, probably via common reacting configurations. All hydrogen atoms and both oxygen atoms participate in this mechanistically complex reaction; the degree of their involvement depends upon the internal energy content of the fragmenting ions.