Structure and Acid Strength of Opianic Acid and Its N-Methyl Oxime

Abstract

In water, undissociated opianic acid exists as an equilibrium mixture containing c. 30% of lactol form (Ia) in equilibrium with open-chain form (IIa); the carboxyl group is therefore a stronger acid by c. 0.5 pK units than the measured value (pK 3.06 ± 0.03) indicates. Opianic acid N-methyl oxime exists largely as the classical nitrone carboxylic acid (IIIa) in water, and is slightly weaker (pK 2.6-2.7) than opianic acid. Both compounds exist largely as cyclic forms, (Ia) and (IV), respectively, in chloroform.