Ketones

[MedPR]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Because alkyl groups are electron donating and a ketone has two alkyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon, the carbonyl carbon of the conjugate base of the ketone is less able to distribute negative charge and is slightly less stable than that of an aldehyde

How is it less able to distribute negative charge than an aldehyde? An aldehyde won't send electron density to the Hydrogen..??

Can someone explain that please? What exactly is the conjugate base of a ketone? A secondary alcohol?

 

[loveoforganic]

The conjugate base is an enolate. Don't remember how to justify relative stability between the two in this example though, unless you only consider inductive effects and disregard other stuff (e.g. hyperconjugation - pretty sure that be in favor of the alkyl group, but don't really remember honestly)