All structures given below are of vitamin C. Most stable of them is:

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Canvas Classes · Accepted Answer

Structure of Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic acid):

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is a -lactone (5-membered ring with ester linkage) with an enediol group at C2–C3.

Most stable tautomer:

The biologically active and most stable form is the enediol form (option 1):
- C2–C3 double bond (C=C)
- –OH groups at both C2 and C3 (enediol)
- -lactone ring (C1 carbonyl as ester)
- Side chain: –CH(OH)–CH₂OH at C5

Why this is most stable:
- The enediol form is stabilized by conjugation between the C=C double bond and

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