Kinetic and equilibrium data for the base-catalysed addition of methanol to cycloalk-2-enones

Abstract

3-Methoxycycloalkanones are rapidly formed by the action of 0·01M-methanolic sodium methoxide on cycloalk-2-enones. The following apparent equilibrium constants for addition have been obtained: cyclopent-2-enone, 0; cyclohex-2-enone, 1·18; cyclohept-2-enone, >100; cyclo-oct-2-enone, >100; cyclonon-2-enone, >21·7 Rate constants for addition do not show marked variation with ring size; however, a clear inverse dependence on the equilibrium constants is observed.