Enols and Enolate Anions

Enzymologists have freely proposed enolate anions, enols, and enamines as intermediates for many years. Such intermediates have been demonstrated for some nonenzymatic acid- or base-catalyzed reactions, but how can enzymes form enolates at pH 7 without the use of strong acids or bases The microscopic pRa value of an a-hydrogen in a ketone or aldehyde is about 17-20.72 98"... 

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