The Enol of Acetone during Photochemical Reactions of 3-Hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone and of Acetone

The enol of acetone, formed by disproportionation reactions of 1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl radicals, is detected by NMR, spectroscopy during photoreactions of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone in acetonitrile and of acetone in 2-propanol and slowly tautomerizes to acetone. The photolysis of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone is shown to proceed via Type I cleavage, predominantly from an excited triplet state.