Reductone
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A reductone is a special class of organic compounds. They are enediols with a carbonyl group adjacent to the enediol group, i.e. RC(OH)=C(OH)-C(O)R. The enediol structure is stabilized by the resonance resulting from the tautomerism with the adjacent carbonyl. Therefore, the chemical equilibrium produces mainly the enediol form rather than the keto form.[1]
Reductones are reducing agents, thus efficacious antioxidants. Some are fairly strong acids.[2] Examples of reductones are tartronaldehyde, reductic acid and ascorbic acid.
| Examples of reductones | ||
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| Tartronaldehyde | Reductic acid | Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) |