IONIZATION OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN ACID I. ALIPHATIC KETONES

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Abstract
The changes in the ultraviolet absorption spectra of aliphatic ketones in aqueous sulphuric acid have been followed as the acid strength is increased from 0 to 98%. With increase in strength up to 65% the weak peak at about 270 mμ is shifted to shorter wavelengths by a medium effect. However, with further increase in acid strength the peak disappears altogether because of protonation of the carbonyl group. The pKBH+ values of several ketones have been calculated from the spectrophotometric results to be about −7. The pKBH+ values of cyclic ketones vary systematically with ring size. The significance of the present work to recent studies on the rate of enolization of acetone is discussed.