Destroyer q- which H is most acidic

You have brought up a very important concept. We have narrowed it down to either alpha proton 2 or alpha proton 1. Abstraction of proton 2 gives a very stabilized enolate.....more than the enolate in 1, as you say.

HOWEVER......the critical parameter here is kinetics.....the rate of abstraction. The proton on the outside is EASIER to remove. We now have a contest... Thermodynamics vs Kinetics. Kinetics wins ! Kinetics also wins out out in reactions such as Diels Alder. Thus....proton 1 is the most acidic.

If you want to see another example of this, go to any text book in organic chemistry and look up the Haloform reaction. You may have done the Iodoform reaction in lab. What is the first move ? We have 2 alpha protons.......The OUTERMOST proton is removed in preference over the innermost alpha proton. Kinetics wins.

Now,,,,,if a double alpha was present, such as that seen in reactions like AcetoAcetic ester synthesis, the double alpha would easily trump the outermost proton due to resonance stabilization.

This is not too tough.....You can do this !!!!

Dr. Romano

 

If a compound had a double alpha, it would NOT do the Haloform reaction. The Haloform reaction is reserved for methyl ketones or methyl carbinols. But, yes,,,,,you have the idea !!!!! Rock on !!!!!

 

Yes.....but it would not be a Haloform reaction. Once treated with base...we would set up the anion from the double alpha abstraction ...yes ? Once formed.....we can react this with a halide in an SN2 process,,,,,,,We see this in an AcetoAcetic Ester synthesis !!!