Keto/enol tautomerism in phenylpyruvic acids: structure of the o-nitrophenylpyruvic acid

The synthesis of a tautomeric keto/enol mixture of o-nitrophenylpyruvic acid followed the acid hydrolysis of the azlactone of o-nitrobenzaldehyde was carried out. The structures of the two tautomeric forms were assigned by NMR spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction of a single crystal revealed that the crystalline form corresponds to the keto tautomer. Quantum mechanics calculations in the gas phase confirmed the experimental findings in solution.     

Tautomerism of bis(2,4-benzyloxy)-6-(5H)-one-1,3,5-triazine: A combined crystallographic and quantum-chemical investigation

In order to study the keto and enol forms of cyanuric acid derivatives in the solid state, we have synthesized bis(2,4-benzyloxy)-6-(5H)-one-1,3,5-triazine, 1. Computational investigations indicate that keto form is more stable than enol form in both gas phase and solution phase by 9.69–11.18 kcal mol⁻¹ IR and crystallographic analysis shows that 1 exists in keto form in the solid state also. To obtain the enol form in the solid state, we adopted co-crystallization with an organic base. The crystal structures of both keto/amine and the enol/imine forms (in a co-crystal) are reported. IICT Communication No. 2505/CMM-0022.     

Theoretical study of cyclization of 2′-hydroxychalcone

The isomerization mechanism of 2′(OH)chalcone (1) in flavanone (2) was studied. The calculations were performed with the semiempirical method AM1, using totally optimized molecular geometries. A 6-step mechanism including several equilibrium states was proposed. It was concluded that: (a) At the conformational equilibrium of 1 there could be 43.9% of s-cis conformer; (b) The acid dissociation of 1 trans-s-trans is considerable; (c) The E_E, ΔH_f and net charges show that the rotation of ring A of 1 and the formation of ring C of 2 occurs without greater impairments; (d) Although the keto structure is the most stable one, the enolate of 2 is present in the reaction medium; (e) The conversion of enol of 2 in the keto form would be the limiting step of the analyzed isomerization rate.     

Solvent-assisted catalysis mechanism on Keto–enol tautomerism of cyameluric acid

The keto–enol tautomerism of cyameluric acid, both in gas phase and in water and methanol solution, has been studied at the B3LYP/6-31++g(d,P) level of theory in this paper. The harmonic frequencies of all the structures are calculated. The results show that the transition states of the tautomerism are 4-membered ring conformations in gas phase, whereas 6-membered ring conformations in solution. In the first proton transfer, activation energy ΔE^# is 56.4 and 50.9 kJ/mol for water and methanol solution, respectively, which is much lower than that in gas phase (163.2 kJ/mol). Solvent molecules (water and methanol) produce an important catalytic effect in the tautomerism, especially for methanol-solvated system. NBO analysis shows that there is a strong interaction between cyameluric acid and solvent molecules in transition states. AIM charge analysis indicates that the keto–enol tautomerism shows a certain degree of proton transfer character. From the reaction enthalpy and reaction rate point of view, keto–enol tautomerism in water-solvated and methanol-solvated system is easier than that in gas phase. The keto–enol tautomerisms are endothermic both in gas phase and in solution, so the enol forms are less stable than the keto ones.     

Ab initio investigation of phloroglucinol

All-electron ab initio Hartree–Fock (RHF ) calculations have been carried out to investigate the keto/enol equilibrium of phloroglucinol. The calculations predict that the enol form of phloroglucinol, 1,3,5-benzenetriol, is by far the most stable of the two. This is confirmed by NMR spectra taken on phloroglucinol. A comparison of the keto enol form transformation of phloroglucinol with that of the phenol system shows that the keto form of phloroglucinol, 1,3,5-cyclohexanetrion, is more abundant in the phloroglucinol system, and the keto form of phenol, 2,4-cyclohexadien-1-on, in the phenol system. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Keto-Enol Tautomerism of 3-R<Superscript>1</Superscript>-5,5-R<Superscript>2</Superscript>,R<Superscript>2</Superscript>-6-R<Superscript>3</Superscript>-2,3,5,6-Tetrahydropyran-2,4-diones

Ethyl esters of 2,4-dibromo-2-R¹-4-R²-3-oxopentanoic and -hexanoic acids react with zinc and aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes under the conditions of the Reformatskii reaction to give 3-R¹-5,5-R², R²-6-R³-2,3,5,6-tetrahydropyran-2,4-diones, which are obtained in three forms: keto, enol with enolization of the keto group, and enol with enolization of the ester group. The keto form is isolated by crystallization from a mixture of CCl₄ and petroleum ether; the first enol form, from MeOH, EtOH, and polar aprotic solvents; and the second enol form, from CHCl₃. The second enol form is oxidized in DMSO to form a keto compound containing a hydroxy group at the 3-position of the heteroring.     

Synthesis of Endocyclic Enol Methyl Ethers of 3-Acylthiotetronic Acids and Their Reactions with Amines

Acylation of (3H,5H)-tetrahydrothiophene-2,4-dione (thiotetronic acid) with acetyl, propionyl, and valeryl chlorides followed by O-C isomerization in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine or acetone cyanohydrin gave rise to 3-acetyl, 3-propanoyl, and 3-pentanoyl derivatives of thiotetronic acid. The reaction of 3-acylthiotetronic acids with diazomethane afforded enol methyl ethers at the endocyclic keto groups. The subsequent reaction of these enol ethers with allylamine, benzylamine, and p-anisidine occurs along the mechanism of vinylog substitution providing the corresponding endocyclic enamino derivatives.     

Chemical composition of the volatile oil from Cynanchum stauntonii and its activities of anti-influenza virus

The volatile oil of the roots of Cynanchum stauntonii was examined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Thirty-eight constituents were identified. (E,E)-2,4-Decadienal, 3-efhyl-4-methypentanol, 5-pentyl-3H-furan-2-one, (E,Z)-2,4-decadienal and 2(3H)-furanone,dihydro-5-pentyl were found to be the major components. The volatile oil exhibited the activities against influenza virus in vitro (IC₅₀s = 64 μg/ml). In in vivo experiment, it prevented influenza virus-induced deaths in a dose-dependent manner.     

Substituent effects on enol nitrosation of 1,3‐diketones

The keto–enol tautomerism of 3‐chloro‐pentane‐2,4‐dione (ClPD) was studied in aqueous micellar solutions of cationic, anionic, and nonionic surfactants. The enol of ClPD tautomerizes rapidly in water to the equilibrium proportions of the keto form, K_E=0.55; whereas the keto–enol conversion of 3‐ethyl‐pentane‐2,4‐dione (EPD) is a much slower reaction than the enol nitrosation. Kinetics of enol –nitrosation of both ClPD and EPD in aqueous acid medium using nitrous acid shows first‐order dependence upon [ketone] and linear or curve relationships of the observed rate constant, k_o, as a function of [nitrite] or [H⁺]; the observed behavior depends on the molecular structure of diketone and varies with the experimental conditions. The reaction is strongly catalyzed by Cl^?, Br^?, or SCN^?, and the observed rate constant shows a curve dependence on [Br^?] or [SCN^?], which is more pronounced at high acidity. The results are consistent with a reaction mechanism in which the nitrosation occurs initially on the enol–oxygen and releasing a proton to form a chelate–nitrosyl complex intermediate in steady state. Fine differences on the mechanistic spectrum of enols nitrosation are considered on the basis of the molecular structure of the diketone. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 668–679, 2012     

Asymmetric synthesis by enzymatic hydrolysis of prochiral dienol diacetate.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of prochiral dienol diacetate 1 by Candida cylindracea lipase (C C L) leads to the keto enol acetate 2 in high yield with an enantiomeric excess> 98 %. The S configuration of the asymmetric center was assigned.     

Mechanism and Origin of Stereoselectivity in Chiral Phosphoric Acid-Catalyzed Aldol-Type Reactions of Azlactones with Vinyl Ethers

The precise mechanism of the chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed aldol-type reaction of azlactones with vinyl ethers was investigated. DFT calculations suggested that the reaction proceeds through a Conia-ene-type transition state consisting of the vinyl ether and the enol tautomer of the azlactone, in which the catalyst protonates the nitrogen atom of the azlactone to promote enol tautomerization. In addition, the phosphoryl oxygen of the catalyst interacts with the vinyl proton of the vinyl ether. The favorable transition structure features dicoordinating hydrogen bonds. However, these hydrogen bonds are not involved in the bond recombination sequence and hence the catalyst functions as a template for binding substrates. From the results of theoretical studies and experimental supports, the high enantioselectivity is induced by the steric repulsion between the azlactone substituent and the binaphthyl backbone of the catalyst under the catalyst template effect.     

Predictions of the geometries and fluorescence emission energies of oxyluciferins

The complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) method and multiconfigurational second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2) have been used to study the structures and spectra of oxyluciferins (OxyLH2). The ground and lowest-lying singlet excited states geometries have been optimized using CASSCF. CASPT2 has been used to predict relaxed emission energies. The focus is on the lowest-lying singlet excited states of the anionic keto and enol forms of OxyLH2(-1) at the optimized excited-state geometries. The planar keto and enol forms of OxyLH2(-1) are minima on both the S0 and the S1 potential energy surfaces. The twisted keto and enol forms of OxyLH2(-1) are transition states on the S0 and S1 potential energy surfaces. The S1 --> S0 fluorescence emission energies are in the range of 54.2-58.4 kcal/mol for the anionic planar keto forms of OxyLH2, and in the range of 55.7-63.2 kcal/mol for the anionic enol forms of OxyLH2. S0 and S1 potential energy surfaces and thus are not implicated in the emission spectra in the gas phase.     

7─羟基喹啉与甲醇、乙醇形成1：2桥式氢键化合物的AM1法研究

利用半经验ＡＭ１方法计算了基态与第一激发态７－羟基喹啉的两种异构体及其与甲醇等溶济分子形成１：２桥式氢键化合物的结构与稳定性。在基态，烯醇式结构比酮式结构稳定；而在第一激发态酮式比烯醇式稳定。１：２桥式氢键的形成使得酮式能量降低比烯醇式多。烯醇式１：２桥式氢键化合物呈交叉式结构，酮式１：２桥式氢键化合物呈折叠式结构，激发态的形成对氢键结构影响不大。在７－羟基喹啉羟基（或羰基）的邻位和间位引入取代基后，对喹啉环和桥式氢键结构的影响均不明显。     

The 2-oxocyclobutanecarboxylic acid keto-enol system in aqueous solution: a remarkable acid-strengthening effect of the cyclobutane ring

Flash photolysis of 2-diazocyclopentane-1,3-dione in aqueous solution produced 2-oxocyclobutylideneketene, which underwent hydration to the enol of 2-oxocyclobutanecarboxylic acid; the enol then isomerized to the keto form of this acid. Rates of the ketene and enol reactions were measured in acid, base, and buffer solutions across the acidity range [H+] = 10(-1)-10(-13) M, and analysis of these data, together with rates of enolization of the keto form of 2-oxocyclobutanecarboxylic acid determined by bromine scavenging, gave keto-enol equilibrium constants as well as acidity constants of the keto and enol forms. The keto-enol equilibrum constants proved to be 2 orders of magnitude less than those reported previously for the next higher homolog, 2-oxocyclopentanecarboxylic acid, reflecting the difficulty of inserting a carbon-carbon double bond into a small, strained carbocyclic ring. The acidity constant of the enol group of 2-oxocyclobutanecarboxylate ion, on the other hand, is greater, by 4 orders of magnitude, than that of the corresponding enol in the cyclopentyl system. This remarkable increase in acidity with diminishing ring size is consistent with the enhanced s character of the orbitals used to make the exocyclic bonds of the smaller cyclobutane ring.     

Calorimetric study of cesium hexafluoroarsenate CsAsF<Subscript>6</Subscript> at elevated temperatures

Summary Cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes of some aroylhydrazone Schiff’s bases derived from isoniazide (hydrazide of isonicotinic acid) with p-hydroxybenzaldehyde; 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde or 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde are prepared and characterized. The study reveals that the ligands coordinate in the keto form. That transformed to the enol through the loss of HCl upon heating the solid complexes. The copper(II) complexes are thermochromic in the solid-state while the cobalt(II) complex, 3 of 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde moiety is solvatochromic in hot DMF. The chromisms obtained were discussed in terms of change in the ligand field strength and/or coordination geometry.     

7─羟基喹啉与甲醇、乙醇形成1：2桥式氢键化合物的AM1法研究

利用半经验ＡＭ１方法计算了基态与第一激发态７－羟基喹啉的两种异构体及其与甲醇等溶济分子形成１：２桥式氢键化合物的结构与稳定性。在基态，烯醇式结构比酮式结构稳定；而在第一激发态酮式比烯醇式稳定。１：２桥式氢键的形成使得酮式能量降低比烯醇式多。烯醇式１：２桥式氢键化合物呈交叉式结构，酮式１：２桥式氢键化合物呈折叠式结构，激发态的形成对氢键结构影响不大。在７－羟基喹啉羟基（或羰基）的邻位和间位引入取代基后，对喹啉环和桥式氢键结构的影响均不明显。     

Study of a new ‘chiral proton’ organocatalyst with hydrolase activity: application in azlactone racemic dynamic resolution

For the first time, a 1,3-ketoenol system is described as an acid catalyst with hydrolytic activity. The combination of an enol and a pyridine/benzimidazole supported on a benzofuran skeleton allowed the creation of a novel bifunctional organocatalyst, which has been applied in azlactone racemic dynamic resolution. In spite of the moderate enantioselectivities obtained, the catalyst constitutes a novel concept in the field of chiral Brønsted acid catalysis.     

Tautomerism and isomerism of guanine–cytosine DNA base pair: Ab initio and density functional theory approaches

The relative stabilities of guanine–cytosine (G–C) DNA base pairs are theoretically investigated with a focus on the keto–enol tautomerism as well as on the cis–trans enol isomerism by using both ab initio method and the density functional theory. The G–C pairs of the keto tautomers turn out to be in general more stable than those of the enol tautomers, 9H-guanine pair, 9KK (see the notation below), being the most stable one. The stability of the G–C pairs appears to be affected by various factors including the keto–enol tautomerization, cis–trans enol isomerization, and the steric hindrance between two tautomeric pairs. Although the B3LYP calculations tend to underestimate the binding energies, in addition, it is shown that the binding energy of G–C pairs interacting through hydrogen bonds can be reasonably calculated with the DFT method, contrary to the base pairs with stacked configurations.     

Some polyhydroxy azo–azomethine derivatives of salicylaldehyde: Synthesis, characterization, spectroscopic, molecular structure and antimicrobial activity studies

Some new substituted polyhydroxy azo–azomethine compounds were prepared by reaction of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane with (E)-2-hydroxy-5-(phenyldiazenyl) benzaldehyde and its substituted derivatives. The structures of azo and azo–azomethine compounds were determined by IR, UV–vis, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic techniques, and/or X-ray diffraction studies. According to IR spectra, all azo–azomethine compounds adopt keto form in solid state. UV–vis analysis has shown the presence of keto–enol tautomerism in solution for all azo–azomethine compounds, except that for nitro substituted derivative, enol form is dominantly favored in solution. At the same time, above mentioned derivative compounds were studied in vitro for their antimicrobial properties. Among the phenylazosalicylaldehyde series compound tested, 4-phenylazosalicylaldehyde, 4-(3-chlorophenylazo)salicylaldehyde, 4-(2-chlorophenylazo)salicylaldehyde, 4-(4-fluorophenylazo)salicylaldehyde, 4-(3-chlorophenylazo)salicylaldehyde and 4-(4-ethylphenylazo)salicylaldehyde showed a weak antimicrobial activity only against gram positive bacteria. On the contrary, phenylazosalicylaldehyde series compounds were reacted tris(hydroxmethyl)aminomethane, that exhibited a strong antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria, yeast and mould. Moreover, while the 2-{[1,3-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)propan-2-ylimino]methyl}phenol did not show an inhibition on tested microorganism, the addition of phenyldiazine groups to 2-{[1,3-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)propan-2-ylimino]methyl}phenol resulted in a strong increases in antimicrobial activity.     

A Theoretical Study on the Photochromic Mechanism of 1-Phenyl-3-methyl-4-（6-hydro-4-amino-5-sulfo-2,3-pyrazine）-pyrazole-5-one

The photochromic mechanism of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-（6-hydro-4-amino-5-sulfo-2,3- pyrazine）-pyrazole-5-one has been investigated using the density functional theory（DFT）. The solvent effect is simulated using the polarizable continuum model（PCM） of the self-consistent reaction field theory. According to the crystal structure of the title compound, an intramolecular proton transfer mechanism from enol to keto form was proposed to interpret its photochromism. Bader＇s atom-in-molecule（AIM） theory is used to investigate the nature of hydrogen bonds and ring structures. Time-dependent density functional theory（TDDFT） calculation results show that the photochromic process from enol to keto form is reasonable. The conformation and molecular orbital analysis of enol and keto forms explain why only intramolecular proton transfer is possible. The results from analyzing the energy and dipole moments of enol form, transition state and keto form in the gas phase and in different solvents have been used to assess the stability of the title compound.