Abstract: K-region arene oxides rearrange to phenols in acetonitrile in two acid-catalyzed steps: rapid rearrangement of the arene oxide to positionally isomeric keto tautomers of K- region phenols, followed by slow enolization. Accumulation of the ketones, proposed intermediates in the acid-catalyzed solvolyses of arene oxides in aqueous solution, allowed their direct spectroscopic observation and characterization for the first time under ...