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JEE Advanced levelOne or more correct optionsDifficulty 3 of 3g3217

3-Methylbutan-2-one, , can give two enolates. Which statements are correct?

  1. AThe kinetic enolate is the more stable enolate
  2. BThe thermodynamic enolate has a tetrasubstituted
  3. CNaOEt in EtOH under equilibrating conditions gives mainly
  4. DLDA in THF at gives mainly

Answer: B, C, D

LDA removes the more accessible methyl H irreversibly, giving the kinetic enolate with a 1,1-disubstituted . Equilibration gives , whose carries three alkyl groups plus the oxygen substituent (four non-hydrogen substituents), so it is tetrasubstituted and more stable. The kinetic enolate is thus less stable.
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