Existence of a resonance hybrid structure as a result of proton tautomerism in (±)-(E)-4-Bromo-2-[(2,3-dihydroxypropylimino) methyl]phenol racemate

• Proton tautomerism is experimentally and theoretically investigated.
• Resonance hybrid structure of the title compound has been investigated.
• The supramolecular structure of title compound is investigated.

o-Hydroxy Schiff bases have two tautomers known as phenol-imine and keto-amine forms. In the present work, the tautomerism in (E)-4-Bromo-2-[(2,3-dihydroxypropylimino)methyl]phenol compound has been investigated by experimental (XRD, FT-IR and UV–vis) and computational (DFT and TD-DFT) methods. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) study reveals that the title compound favors a resonance hybrid structure of phenol-imine and keto-amine forms in the solid state rather than having these forms separately or jointly. Experimental UV–vis study of proton transfer process in solvent media (Benzene, DMSO and EtOH) shows the preference of phenol-imine form in benzene while both phenol-imine and keto-amine characteristics are present in EtOH and DMSO.

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