Solvent isotope effects on the enolisation of acetone

Abstract

The solvent isotope effect on the enolisation of acetone has been measured in acetic acid/acetate buffers. The precision of the differential method has been further improved by including differential dilution. Results have been obtained in both D₂O and in a 50:50 mixture of H₂O and D₂O. The number of sites and their fractionation factors have been found for the six different transition states including the concerted mechanism involving HAc and Ac^–. The structure of the different transition states is discussed.