Abstract
Spectral evidence supports the conclusion reached in Part IV that ring-chain mesomerism in methyl and ethyl Δ1,5-hexadiene-l,1,3,3,4,4,6,6-octacarboxylates is nonexistent in solution, just as in the crystalline state. The data are not inconsistent with chain hyperconjugation in these molecules. The marked change in structural type that follows the addition of one molecule of hydrogen or hydrolytic reagent has been verified spectrographically. The spectra of methyl and ethyl α,γ-dicarboxyglutaconic esters and their sodium and cupric derivatives have been measured in various solvents, and their tautomeric behavior compared with that of other keto-enols. Of special interest is the intense long-wave absorption band of the enolate ions, which are recognized as simple structural analogs of the cyanine dyes giving rise to similar charge-resonance spectra. A preliminary comment is made on the present accepted structure of ethyl 6-ethoxy-α-pyrone-3:5-dicarboxylate.