Which statement about the compound shown is correct?

AIt has 4 hydrogens on carbons next to the carbonyl groups, but they are vinylic (sp $^{2}$ ), so it cannot enolise by alpha-deprotonation.
BIt has 4 alpha hydrogens that enolise to give hydroquinone.
CIt has 2 alpha hydrogens that enolise readily.
DIt has no hydrogens on carbons next to the carbonyl groups, so it cannot enolise.

Answer: A

The compound shown is 1,4-benzoquinone. Each carbonyl carbon is bonded to two ring CH carbons, so 4 hydrogens sit on alpha carbons, but these carbons are sp

^{2}

and part of C=C bonds, so there is no sp

^{3}

alpha C-H to lose and no neutral enol can form. Hydroquinone is formed by reduction, not enolisation.

Practice General Organic Chemistry III: Reaction Intermediates More on Alpha hydrogens and enolisable positions in drawn compounds

Previous question

Which statement about the compound shown is correct?

Answer: A

More questions on Alpha hydrogens and enolisable positions in drawn compounds