ABSTRACT
A carbanion can be defined as the species formed by removal of a proton from a carbon acid (i.e., by Eq. 2.1 [1,2]). The species on the left side of Eq. 2.1 is the
conjugate acid of the carbanion and the acidity constant for this acid (K ) can be measured or estimated by a variety of methods [1,3-12]. These acidity constants are generally used as a guide to carbanion stability, making the assumption that the stronger carbon acid is associated with the formation of a more stable carbanionic species, and vice versa. In this chapter systematic studies of carbon acidity and carbanion stability will be discussed.
