Tautomerism of anthraquinones: I. Purpurin and anions derived therefrom

A procedure was proposed for quantitative analysis of tautomeric equilibria of organic compounds. Purpurin was found to exist mainly as 9,10-, 1,4-, and 1,10-anthraquinoid tautomers, its monoanion, as 1,10-anthraquinoid tautomer, the dianion, as 1,10- and 2,9-anthraquinoid tautomers, and the trianion, as 1,10-, 1,4-, and 2,9-anthraquinoid tautomers. Tautomeric transformations occur both in the ground and in the excited states, and the corresponding changes of quantum-chemical parameters in these states are essentially different. The excited states are more sensitive to tautomeric transformations than the ground states. ©2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc.