Acyl- -annulene anion

Thus, the enolates 143b and c (and probably also 143a) are intermediate in behavior between true enolates like 62 and the acyl-[9]annulene anions 61 (in solvent separated ion pairs). This order is well documented by MNDO calculations. 

One can visualize an entirely different situation if one deprotonates the cyclonona-tetraenyl ketones 170 (prepared from the [9]annulene anion 169 and acyl chlorides in THF at —20 °C) with a base M+B 121). 

Does the deprotonation lead to a nonafulvenolate -type structure 171 M+ (an enolate contact ion pair 122 123,124)) or to an acyl-substituted [9]annulene anion 171 M+, possibly a solvent separated ion pair 1271... 

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