Water elimination from the keto and enol tautomers of ionised ethylacetate

The keto and enol forms of ionised ethylacetate both lose H 2 O to generate the keto and enol ions of methylvinylketone, probably via common reacting configurations. All hydrogen atoms and both oxygen atoms participate in this mechanistically complex reaction; the degree of their involvement depends upon the internal energy content of the fragmenting ions.