Equilibrium constants tautomerization

An interesting ring-chain tautomerism between 2-azidothiazole (328) and thiazolotetrazole (328a) has been reported (597, 618, 619), the 328 structure predominating (Scheme 190). The solvent polarity and basicity influences this equilibrium constant significantly (1592). 

The mean chemical shifts of A- unsubstituted pyrazoles have been used to determine the tautomeric equilibrium constant, but the method often leads to erroneous conclusions (76AHC(Sl)l) unless the equilibrium has been slowed down sufficiently to observe the signals of individual tautomers (Section 4.04.1.5.1). When acetone is used as solvent it is necessary to bear in mind the possibility (depending on the acidity of the pyrazole and the temperature) of observing the signals of the 1 1 adduct (55) whose formation is thermodynamically favoured by lowering the solution temperature (79MI40407). A similar phenomenon is observed when SO2 is used as solvent. 

The use of UV spectroscopy as an identification method is continuously decreasing in relative importance compared to the use of NMR or mass spectrometry. However, due to the general validity of Beer s law, it continues to be an appropriate method for quantitative studies such as the measurement of ionization constants (Section 4.04.2.1.3(iv) and (v)) and the determination of tautomeric equilibrium constants (Section 4.04.4.1.5). 

From a general point of view, the tautomeric studies can be divided into 12 areas (Figure 20) depending on the migrating entity (proton or other groups, alkyl, acyl, metals. ..), the physical state of the study (solid, solution or gas phase) and the thermodynamic (equilibrium constants) or the kinetic (isomerization rates) approach. 

About 90% of all the studies on tautomerism refer to the determination of prototropic equilibrium constants in solution. Most probably in the next years there will be further studies in the remaining areas, some of them almost a desert at the present time. 

Together with pyridones, the tautomerism of pyrazolones has been studied most intensely and serves as a model for other work on tautomerism (76AHC(Sl)l). 1-Substituted pyrazolin-5-ones (78) can exist in three tautomeric forms, classically known as CH (78a), (DH (78b) and NH (78c). In the vapour phase the CH tautomer predominates and in the solid state there is a strongly H-bonded mixture of OH and HN tautomers (Section 4.04.1.3.1). However, most studies of the tautomerism of pyrazolones correspond to the determination of equilibrium constants in solution (see Figure 20). 

In a neutral azole, the apparent rate of formation of an A-substituted derivative depends on the rate of reaction of a given tautomer and on the tautomeric equilibrium constant. For example, with a 3(5)-substituted pyrazole such as (199), which exists as a mixture of two tautomers (199a) and (199b) in equilibrium, the product composition [(200)]/[(201)] is a function of the rate constants Ha and fcs, as well as of the composition of the tautomeric mixture (Scheme 16) <76AHC(Si)l). 

The electronic spectrum of a compound arises from its 7r-electron system which, to a first approximation, is unaffected by substitution of an alkyl group for a hydrogen atom. Thus, comparison of the ultraviolet spectrum of a potentially tautomeric compound with the spectra of both alkylated forms often indicates which tautomer predominates. For example, Fig. 1 shows that 4-mercaptopyridine exists predominantly as pyrid-4-thione. In favorable cases, i.e., when the spectra of the two alkylated forms are very different and/or there are appreciable amounts of both forms present at equilibrium, the tautomeric constant can be evaluated. By using this method, it was shown, for example, that 6-hydroxyquinoline exists essentially as such in ethanol but that it is in equilibrium with about 1% of the zwitterion form in aqueous solution (Fig. 2). 

One interesting problem frequently recurring in heterocyclic chemistry, particularly with respect to nitrogen heterocycles, is tautomeric equilibria. Too many methods are available for the elucidation of equilibrium positions and tautomeric equilibrium constants (Kj) to adequately review the whole question here. However, the Hammett equation provides one independent method this method has the advantage that it can be used to predict the equilibrium position and to estimate the equilibrium constant, even in cases where the equilibrium position is so far to one side or the other that experimental determination of the concentration of the minor component is impossible. The entire method will be illustrated using nicotinic acid as an example but is, of course, completely general. 

Thus, estimates of tautomeric equilibrium constants are available without any experimental data except the necessary a- and p-values. 

It is well accepted that tautomerism relates to the equilibrium between two or more different tautomers e.g., it corresponds to determining if the structure of a compound is, for instance, a pyridone or an hydroxypyridine. The kinetic aspects are often neglected and when the tautomeric equilibrium constant, Kt, is equal to 1 (e.g., for imidazole), the problem may seem... 

Since the domain explored will always be a very small part of the possible cases of tautomerism, it is essential to have general rules for families of compounds, substituents, and solvents. This chemical approach is maintained in this chapter, although the importance of the calculations is recognized. The following discussion begins with calculation of tautomeric equilibrium constants, followed by the combined use of theoretical calculations and experimental results (an increasingly expanding field) and ends with the calculations of the mechanisms of proton transfer between tautomers. 

Equilibrium constants and activation parameters have been determined [76ACS(B)101] [for a review see 82AHC(30)127]. Ionization potentials for tautomeric 2-hydroxyselenophenes have been analyzed by comparison with IP data for compounds derived from either tautomeric form. The enol form could not be detected [75ACS(B)647]. 

Equilibrium Constants Kt = 14a/14b) for Imidazole Annular Tautomerism as Determined erom Measurements... 

Tautomeric Equilibrium Constants Kt = [ll/]/[21/] OF Substituted Tetrazoles 27 in DMSO Estimated from NMR Studies... 

Such modifications can be produced either in the kinetic aspects (proton transfer) or in the equilibrium constant. Both effects are mediated by intramolecular hydrogen bonds. For instance, Navarro et al. (93MI69) showed that the rate of proton transfer between the two nitrogen atoms of pyrazole (annular tautomerism) is considerably reduced in macrocycles containing oxygen or nitrogen atoms in the macroring. 

ITIES interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions K tautomeric equilibrium constant between the zwitterionic and the neutral forms of a compound... 

When determining the tautomeric equilibrium constant for a process... 

The 2-substituted system has proven especially attractive to modelers because the experimental equilibrium constants are known both in the gas phase and in many different solutions. As a result, the focus of the modeling study can be on the straightforward calculation of the differential solvation free energy of the two tautomers, without any requirement to first accurately calculate the relative tautomeric free energies in the gas phase. However, in 1992 Les et al. [290] suggested that prior experimental data [240,266,288], primarily in the form of ultraviolet spectra in the gas phase and in low-temperature matrices, had been misinterpreted and that the reported equilibrium constants referred to homomeric dimers of tautomers (i.e., (42)2 (43)2). Parchment et al. [291] contested this... 

For some compounds NMR data were collected to determine the equilibrium constants for the tautomerism between the azide form such as for 30 and the tetrazole derivative 31 (Scheme 3). Similar investigations were conducted for the compounds 28 and 29 and the solvent effects and substituent effects are discussed <1996JHC747>. 

Figure 3. Variations of the tautomerism equilibrium constant Kr ([B] = 0.3 mole l 1, 30°C) of t-butyl-2-picolyl (0) and quinaldyl (A) ketones vs. solvent polarity. (DME) dimethoxyethane (CFG) propyleneglycol carbonate (NMF) N-methylformamide (F)formamide.

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