ethenolate

Ethenolate is a chemical term that can refer to a few different species related to ethene (ethylene). Most commonly, it refers to the anion formed by the deprotonation of ethanol, often in the context of an alkoxide. However, in organic chemistry, ethenolate can also describe a transient, enolate-like species derived from ethene. This species is not a stable, isolable compound but rather an intermediate formed during certain reactions, such as the metallation of ethene. In this context, ethenolate would have a negative charge delocalized between the two carbon atoms of the ethene unit and a hydrogen atom, if present. Its formation typically requires strong bases. Another interpretation, though less common, could refer to an ester of ethenoic acid, also known as acrylic acid. These are vinyl esters. The specific meaning of ethenolate often depends on the chemical context in which it is used, with the ethoxide anion being the most frequent interpretation. The term is not widely used in everyday chemical discourse, and often more precise nomenclature like "ethoxide" or "vinyl anion" is preferred.