Substituent effect on the proton-related phenomena and chelation behavior of hydroxypicolinic compounds: a DFT investigation

Comparative study on kinetics and thermodynamics of proton-related reactions of hydroxypicolinic acids has been carried out using density functional theory associated with polarizable continuum model of solvation. Mechanisms for such reactions have been established. Both 3- and 4-hydroxypicolinic acid prefer zwitterionic forms to normal forms. For 6-hydroxypicolinic acid, keto forms are highly preferred. The pK _a values and UV/Vis bands predicted for some picolinic compounds agree with the experiment. 5-Hydroxypicolinate shows the highest preference for complexation with copper(II) but 6-hydroxypolinate gives rise to the most stable complex. Kinetic stability of the trans-isomer relative to the cis-isomer of the complexes has been evaluated. UV/Vis spectral data predicted for some picolinate complexes are also in agreement with the previous experiment.