Effect of Ni(ii), Cu(ii) and Zn(ii) association on the keto-enol tautomerism of thymine in the gas phase

The effect of Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) association on the diketo/keto-enol tautomerism of thymine has been investigated through the use of B3LYP density functional theory calculations. Final energies were obtained at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,2p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. Ni(II) and Cu(II) lead to an oxidation of thymine which for Zn(ii) is only partial and catalyze the tautomerization process, this catalytic effect being much larger for Ni(2+) and Zn(2+) than for Cu(2+). One of the most significant consequences of the oxidation of the base is that the calculated BDE's are primarily dictated by the value of the second ionization potential of the metal, and therefore follow the sequence Cu(2+) > Ni(2+) > Zn(2+). Also importantly, metal dication association leads to a stabilization of the keto-enol tautomer, which becomes the most stable form upon interaction with Ni(2+) and Zn(2+). This stabilization enhancement is the consequence of three concomitant factors, namely, (i) a stronger interaction of the metal cation with the carbonyl oxygen, (ii) the interaction of the metal with the dehydrogenated ring nitrogen, (iii) an aromatization of the six-membered ring.