tautomerism
The existence of two interconvertible isomers
of a compound, usually in labile equilibrium, though in some cases isolable.
It may be demonstrated by spectroscopy
or by the exhibition of properties characteristic of both tautomers. Most
tautomerism is by hydrogen transfer, as with carbonyl
compounds, in which the keto form (-CH-C=O) is in equilibrium with the enol
form (-C=C-OH). Sugars display tautomerism
between cyclic and straight-chain forms.
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