Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of Schiff bases derived from 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde

A series of six new Schiff bases has been prepared by reacting aniline and 4-R-substituted anilines (R=CH₃, OCH₃, Br, Cl, NO₂) with 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde. The ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N and ¹⁷O NMR data of these compounds are used to discuss the tautomerism. ¹⁵N NMR and ¹⁷O NMR chemical shifts established the tautomer existing in solution as the hydroxy/imino. ¹³C CPMAS NMR confirms that the same tautomer is found in the solid state. The stabilities of the tautomeric forms have been approached using density functional calculations (B3LYP/6-31G**) in the gas phase. In all cases the neutral hydroxy/imino with E configuration is more stable than the oxo/enamino form (by ∼22 kJ mol⁻¹) and significantly more stable than the betaine (by ∼75 kJ mol⁻¹).