Chemistry
How Tautomerization Impacts the Reactivity of Carbonyl Compounds
Quick fact
The enol form of a carbonyl compound, though usually present in tiny amounts, is the actual reactive species in many classic reactions such as bromination of ketones and the aldol condensation—meaning that without tautomerization, these reactions would not occur.
Why this is interesting
You might think that a carbonyl group is only reactive at the carbon-oxygen double bond. But these common molecules have a hidden alter ego—an enol form—that reacts in completely different ways.