Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 44 (2), P. 249 - 254, 2006<br />
<br />
<br />
effect of solvents on tautomeric equilibrium of<br />
acetyl acetone: A Theoretical stUdy<br />
Received 22 June 2005<br />
Nguyen Thanh Cuong, Le Kim Long and Dang Ung Van<br />
Center for computational chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry<br />
College of Natural Sciences, Vietnam National University, Hanoi<br />
<br />
<br />
summary<br />
The tautomeric equilibrium of acetyl acetone in gas and different solvents were studied by<br />
electronic structure calculations. The mechanism of reaction was proposed. In gaseous phase, the<br />
results of B3LYP level are more agreement with experiments than that of HF level. The cis-enolic<br />
form was found to be the most thermodynamic stable structure. The solvent effects on tautomeric<br />
equilibrium are estimated by performing self-consistent reaction field (SCRF)-Onsager and PCM<br />
models at B3LYP level. The latter is shown of a better model for solvation. The solvents are<br />
shown to be not effecting on the thermodynamic stabilities of enol or keto form, but have more<br />
influence on the transition state. In solvents, the activation energy decreases ca. 20 kcal.mol-1.<br />
The enol/keto concentration ratio in different solvents were calculated and compared with<br />
experimental data. In more polar solvent, the more content of keto form was found.<br />
<br />
<br />
I - Introduction<br />
constant Ke ( K e =<br />
[enol ] ).<br />
The proton transfer between interconversion<br />
[keto]<br />
tautomers is of importance in synthetic Enol form of acetyl acetone exists mainly in<br />
chemistry, such as: keto-enol, imine-enamine, gaseous phase, however, the enol/keto ratio<br />
oxime-nitroso [1, 2]…. The keto-enol depends on strongly the polarization of solvents.<br />
tautomerization, especially in the -diketone The equilibrium constant measured by 1H-NMR<br />
compounds is a common one. Acetyl acetone, spectroscopy indicates a higher enol content in<br />
one of the -diketone compound, was studied apolar aprotic than in dipolar protic or dipolar<br />
experimentally early and thoroughly [1, 2]. This aprotic solvents [2]. On the other hand, enol<br />
compound usually exists an equilibrium mixture form of acetyl acetone exists two confor-<br />
of enol and keto tautomers with equilibrium mations: cis–enolic form and trans-enolic form.<br />
H<br />
O CH3 TS1 O O TS2 O O<br />
C C C C C C<br />
CH3 CH OH CH3 CH2 CH3 CH3 CH CH3<br />
trans-enolic tautomer Keto tautomer cis-enolic tautomer<br />
<br />
The purpose of the present study is to re- of acetyl acetone by electronic structure<br />
examine the keto - enol tautomeric equilibrium calculations in gas phase and the effects of<br />
<br />
249<br />
solvent on tautomeric equilibrium. solute is placed in a uniform electric field of<br />
solvent with a dielectric constant . The solute is<br />
II - Calculation Methods assumed to occupy a spherical cavity of radius<br />
a0 in the medium. A dipole in the molecule is<br />
All calculations were carried out using induced by a dipole of the medium and vice<br />
Gaussian 98. A3 [4]. All geometries of versa. The electric field applied to the solute by<br />
structures were fully optimized and frequencies the solvent dipole in turn interacts with the<br />
were calculated at the RHF/ 6-31+G(d) and molecular dipole to lead to net stabilization.<br />
B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. Zero-point This model has a major drawback that the<br />
vibrational and thermal corrections were molecule is a sphere that is usually far away<br />
calculated at the same level and scaled by 0.9 at from the realistic picture. In the second model<br />
the HF level [3, 4] and 0.98 at the B3LYP level (polarized continuum models-PCM), solvent is<br />
[3, 4] to account for the overestimation of assumed to be a continuous medium with a<br />
vibrational frequencies at these levels. The dielectric constant that surrounds a cavity<br />
scaled ZPE corrections were included in the containing the solute and the shape molecule to<br />
relative energy values (RE). The transition afford more accurate solvation energies. We<br />
states were found by Synchronous Transit have considered various solvents with dielectric<br />
Guided Newton (STQN) algorithm (Opt = constants 20.7 (acetonitrile), and 78.39 (water),<br />
QST2) at two levels. The transition states were and 2.247 (benzene) to understand the solvent<br />
characterized by frequency calculation and effects on tautomeric equilibrium. The radius of<br />
instrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC). the spherical cavity for the Onsager’s model was<br />
The effects of solvent on the structure were calculated by performing single-point<br />
studied by using the self-consistent reaction calculations at the optimized geometry of the<br />
field (SCRF) method with two models: HF level (gas phase) by specifying the keyword<br />
Onsager’s reaction field theory [4, 5] and VOLUME as in the Gaussian 98 packages. The<br />
polarized continue model (PCM) proposed by thermodynamic parameters were calculated<br />
Tomasi and co-workers [4, 6]. In the former, the from obtained frequence results.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2-cis 1 2-trans<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
TS1 TS2<br />
<br />
Figure 1: The geometry and transition states at B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level<br />
250<br />
Table 1: Geometrical parameters of structures at B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level<br />
Bond/Angle 2-cis 2-trans 1 TS1 TS2<br />
H8-O11 (Å) 0.963 0.965 2.98 1.234 1.27<br />
H8-C7 (Å) 2.670 2.40 1.06 1.54 1.50<br />
O6C5C7C10 0.04 -2.135 -60.00 5.02 -6.85<br />
O11C10C7C5 -0.01 -178.93 -140.28 -86.7 139.69<br />
H8O11C10C7 -0.090 0.73 -32.61 -5.01 -8.29<br />
<br />
III - Results and Discussion structures TS1, TS2 (figure 1) have one<br />
negative eigenvalue in the Hessian matrix and<br />
1. Structure and enol-keto equilibrium in one imaginary vibrational frequency each.<br />
gas phase The geometrical parameters of structures at<br />
B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level was given in table 1.<br />
The structures 1 (keto form), 2-cis (cis- The energies, relative energies, dipole moment<br />
enolic form), 2-trans (trans-enolic form) (figure of the optimized structures and transition<br />
1) are minima at all levels with all eigenvalues structures TS1, TS2 calculated at the HF,<br />
in the Hessian matrix and the vibrational B3LYP levels of theory are given in table 2. The<br />
frequencies being positive. The transition PES of two levels is showed on figure 2.<br />
<br />
Table 2: Total, Zero Point and Relative Energies, Dipole moments* of all structures<br />
HF/6-31+G(d) level B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level<br />
E E + ZPE RE DM DMexp E E + ZPE RE DM<br />
1 -343.7374906-343.6311974 -3.08 2.0086 -345.8228370 -345.703533 5.47 1.6330<br />
2-cis -343.7338400-343.6311974 0 3.3948 2.78 -345.8323928 -345.7122503 0 3.3699<br />
2- -345.8140774<br />
-343.7187243 8.98 3.5044 11.32 3.4494<br />
trans -343.6311974 -345.6942058<br />
TS1 -343.6485367-343.6311974 51.73 4.9054 -345.7302872 -345.616663259.98 4.0400<br />
TS2 -343.6177696-343.6311974 68.30 3.1064 -345.7333186 -345.619801958.01 2.5984<br />
*<br />
E, E+ZPE: hartree; RE: Kcal.mol ; DM: Debye; 1 hartree=627.5 kcal.mol-1<br />
-1<br />
<br />
<br />
Energies and activation energies<br />
The electronic energies of all<br />
structures at the B3LYP level are<br />
lower than ones at HF level (table<br />
1). At the HF level, the RE values<br />
show a thermodynamics preference<br />
for keto form more than enolic<br />
form. Conversely, at B3LYP level,<br />
cis-enolic form is the most stable.<br />
According to the measured 1H-<br />
NMR spectroscopy, the cis-enolic Figure 2: Schematic potential energy of geometries<br />
form occupies 92% context in at HF and B3LYP levels<br />
<br />
251<br />
gaseous phase [2]. So the energies at B3LYP are 2. Structure and enol-keto equilibrium in<br />
in more agreement with the experiments. These solvent phase<br />
results were also obtained from previous From the above results and the fact that<br />
theoretical calculations [9, 10]. It also shows trans-enolic form was observed experimentally<br />
that it is difficult to determine what the main in rare cases [2], the trans-enolic form is<br />
tautomeric equilibrium exits based on the excluded in solvent calculations. The solvent<br />
activation energies. Both two levels, the calculations are carried out at the B3LYP/6-<br />
activation energies are approximate value. 31+G(d,p) level with two models: Onsager and<br />
Dipole Moments PCM, in three solvents: water and acetonitrile<br />
and benzene.<br />
The calculated dipole moments of all The energies and GSol, dipole moments<br />
structures (table 2) also are quite different at the values of optimized structures and TS1 in three<br />
two levels. Compared with the experimental solvents with two models are given in table 3a,<br />
dipole moment of 2-cis (2,78 D) [7], both two b, c. In Onsager model, the GSol value is<br />
levels have the higher value. calculated by formula GSol = (E+ZPE)solvent -<br />
So the calculations at B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) (E+ZPE)gas. GSol of PCM model is given<br />
level give a good agreement with the directly from the output file. As ZPE values in<br />
experiments and theoritical calculations and this PCM model are not given in the output file, RE<br />
level is used in solvent calculations. is calculated by formula RE= Esolvent – Egas.<br />
<br />
Table 3a: Electronic, total and relative, Gibbs free Energies, Dipole moments* of all structures<br />
based on Onsager’s Model and PCM Model in benzene solvent at 6-31+G(d,p) at B3LYP level<br />
Onsager Model PCM Model<br />
E E+ZPE RE GSolv DM E RE GSolv DM<br />
1 -345.8228380 -345.703738 5.74 -0.13 1.6762 -345.822838024 6.55 -0.17 1.7744<br />
2-cis -345.8332809 -345.712897 0 -0.41 3.5925 -345.833280999 0 -0.60 3.6363<br />
TS1 -345.7650346 -345.647525 41.02 -19.37 3.9192 -345.765034677 42.82 -0.79 3.9543<br />
* -1 -1<br />
E, E+ ZPE: hartree; RE, GSolv: kcal.mol ; DM: Debye; 1 hartree = 627.5 kcal.mol<br />
<br />
Table 3b: Electronic, total and relative, Gibbs free Energies, Dipole moments of all structures<br />
based on Onsager’s Model and PCM model in acetonitrile solvent at 6-31+G(d,p) at B3LYP level<br />
Onsager Model PCM Model<br />
E E+ZPE RE GSolv DM E RE GSolv* DM<br />
1 -345.8230801 -345.703998 6.47 -0.29 1.7800 -345.8222619 5.50 0.24 2.0548<br />
2-cis -345.8346714 -345.71431 0 -1.29 3.9588 -345.831023 0 0.76 4.0692<br />
TS1 -345.7667263 -345.649301 40.79 -20.48 4.3828 -345.7661197 40.73 -1.46 4.4857<br />
<br />
Relative energies and solvation free energy values of cis-enolic form and keto form in two<br />
Compared with those of the structures in gas models change negligible, meanwhile the RE<br />
phase, these results show that the medium does value of TS1 changes strongly,e.g. decreases<br />
not affect on the thermodynamic stability of the from ca. 60 kcal.mol-1 to ca. 40 kcal.mol-1. So<br />
enol and keto forms, but on TS1 and therefore TS1 may be solvated by solvents and it<br />
on the tautomeric activation barrier. The RE decreases the energy of TS1.<br />
<br />
252<br />
Table 3c: Electronic, total and relative, Gibbs free Energies, Dipole moments of all structures<br />
based on Onsager’s Model and PCM Model in water solvent at 6-31+G(d,p) at B3LYP level<br />
Onsager Model PCM Model<br />
E E+ZPE RE GSolv DM E RE GSolv* DM<br />
1 -345.823091 -345.7040098 6.51 -0.3 1.7846 -345.8310098 4.17 -5.25 2.3180<br />
2-cis -345.8347365 -345.7143772 0 -1.33 3.9759 -345.8376499 0 -3.40 4.4639<br />
TS1 -345.7668068 -345.6493854 40.78 -20.53 4.4051 -345.7797851 36.31 -10.04 4.9502<br />
<br />
There is a different pace of the effect of Gg0(A B)<br />
dielectric constants between Onsager and PCM A(g) B(g)<br />
model. The solvation free energy of each 0 0<br />
Gsolv(A) Gsolv(B)<br />
structure in Onsager model decreases when the 0<br />
dielectric constants increase (from benzene to Gs(A B)<br />
water). The GSol value of each structure in PCM A(s) B(s)<br />
model changes randomly. The standard free energy of the reaction in<br />
solution[2,11] can be written as:<br />
The enol/keto ratio<br />
The enol/keto ratio or mole fraction of enol G s0 = G g0 + [ 0<br />
Gsolv ( B) 0<br />
Gsolv ]<br />
( A) =<br />
(*)<br />
tautomer is determined experimentally based on = G g0 + G solv<br />
the equilibrium constant Ke ( K e =<br />
[enol ] )<br />
[keto] Since, for equilibrium, the logarithm of the<br />
equilibrium constant Ke is proportional to the<br />
measured by 1H-NMR spectroscopy [1,2] (table standard free energy change, according to<br />
4).<br />
Consider the isomerization reaction A B ,<br />
equation: G 0 = RT ln K e (**)<br />
the standard free energies of reaction in the gas It follows from Eqs. (*) and (**) that the<br />
0<br />
phase and in solution are denoted as G g and difference in the molar Gibbs energies of<br />
reactant A and product B, Gsolv, determines<br />
G s0 , respectively. Quantities associating with the solvent effect on this equilibrium 2, 11].<br />
the reactant A and product B are free energies of Particularly, the value of Ke or mole fraction of<br />
0<br />
solvation denoted as G solv . From the enol tautomer decreases with increasing Gsolv<br />
values.<br />
thermodynamic cycle given below<br />
<br />
Table 4: The Gsolv of reaction in solvents with two models<br />
Mole fractions of<br />
Gsolv Ke(exp) [2]<br />
Solvent enol form (%) [2]<br />
Onsager Model PCM Model<br />
Gas 0 0 11.7 92<br />
Benzene ( = 2.247) -0.28 -0.43 14.7 94<br />
Acetonitrile ( = 20.7) -1.0 0.52 1.6 62<br />
Water ( = 78.93) -1.03 1.85 0.23 19<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
253<br />
Table 4 shows that the Gsolv reaction References<br />
values in Onsager model decrease when the<br />
polarity of solvent increases. In contrast, in 1. Donald L. Pavia, Gary M. Lampman,<br />
PCM model, the Gsolv reaction value George S. Kriz. Introduction to<br />
decreases in benzene solvent, but increase in Spectroscopy - A Guide for Students of<br />
more polar solvent. This is also obtained from Organic Chemistry, Second Edition, 1999.<br />
experimental Ke results (table 4). So the PCM Harcourt Brace College Publishers.<br />
model gives a much better solvent effects than 2. Christian Reichardt. Solvents and Solvent<br />
Onsager model. Effests in Organic Chemistry, chapter 4, P.<br />
104 - 113, Wiley-VCH (2003).<br />
IV - Conclusions 3. J. B. Foresman, E. Frisch. Exploring<br />
Chemistry with Electronic Structure Methods.<br />
ab-initio electronic structure calculations Gaussian Inc, Pittsburgh, PA (1996).<br />
demonstrate enol/keto tautomerism for<br />
acetylacetone in gas and in solvents as well. In 4. M.J. Frisch et al., Gaussian 98 A3 and<br />
gas phase, at HF levels, the keto form was found GaussView 2.1, Gaussian, Inc., Pittsburgh,<br />
to be the most thermodynamic stable. In PA (1998).<br />
contrast, the cis-enolic form was found to be the 5. M. W. Wong, M. J. Frisch, K. B. Wiberg. J.<br />
most thermodynamic stable at B3LYP level. The Am. Chem. Soc., 113, 4776 - 4782 (1991).<br />
latter is in a better agreement with the 6. Tomasi and co-worker. Chem. Phys. 55<br />
experimental data. (1981), 117 (1981); Chem. Phys., 65, 239<br />
The RE values in both Onsager and PCM (1982); J. Chem. Phys., 107 (1997), 3210<br />
models show that solvents is less effective on (1997); Chem. Phys. Lett., 286, 253 (1998).<br />
the thermodynamic stability of enol and keto 7. Kosuke Izutsu, Electrochemistry in<br />
form but more effective on activation energy Nonaqueous Solutions, chapter 1, P. 8 - 35,<br />
barrier. The transition state is proposed to Wiley-VCH (2003).<br />
solvated the activated energy decreases ca. 20 8. Eluvathingal D. Jemmis, Kalathingal T.<br />
kcal.mol-1. PCM model provides a better picture Giju, Jerzy Leszczynski. J. Phys. Chem. A.,<br />
for solvation and the enol/keto ratio than 101, 7398 - 7395 (1997).<br />
Onsager model.<br />
9. Pablo Campomanes, M. Isabel Menendez,<br />
Acknowledgment: The authors gratefully thank Tomas L. Sordo. J. Mol. Struct: Theochem,<br />
to Vietnam National Council of Natural 713, 59 - 63 (2004).<br />
Sciences for supporting this work. We are also 10. Ivana Matanovic, Nadja Doslic, Zlatko<br />
grateful to Prof. Dr. Minh Tho Nguyen, Mihalic. Chem. Phys., 306, 201 - 207<br />
Department of Chemistry, Levuen University, (2004).<br />
Belgium for supporting the Gaussian 98.A3. 11. Thanh N. Truong et al. J. Chem. Phys., 107,<br />
Software. 1881 - 1889 (1997).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
254<br />