Organic Acids without a Carboxylic Acid Functional Group

Abstract

This paper presents several organic molecules that have been labeled as acids but do not contain a carboxylic acid functional group. The rationale for the nomenclature and appropriate explanations for the apparent acidity are discussed. For each molecule, the structure is shown and the most acidic proton is highlighted. Various chemical principles such as pKa, tautomerization, aromaticity, conformation, resonance, and induction are explored.