tautomerization
Tautomerization is a chemical process where a compound shifts between two structural forms, known as tautomers, that differ in the placement of protons and electrons. This often involves the movement of a hydrogen atom and a double bond, resulting in different functional groups. Tautomerization is common in organic compounds, particularly in keto-enol systems.
This process is important in various biological and chemical reactions, influencing the stability and reactivity of molecules. For example, the tautomerization of uracil can affect its role in DNA and RNA by altering base pairing properties, which is crucial for genetic information transfer.