Detection of tautomer proportions of dimedone in solution: a new approach based on theoretical and FT-IR viewpoint

J Comput Aided Mol Des. 2013 Aug;27(8):681-8. doi: 10.1007/s10822-013-9669-z. Epub 2013 Aug 7.

Abstract

Molecular structures of stable tautomers of dimedone [5,5-dimethyl-cyclohexane-1,3-dione and 3-hydroxy-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-enone] were optimized and vibrational frequencies were calculated in five different organic solvents (dimethylsulfoxide, methanol, acetonitrile, dichloromethane and chloroform). Geometry optimizations and harmonic vibrational frequency calculations were performed at DFT 6-31+G(d,p), DFT 6-311++G(2d,2p), MP2 6-311++G (2d,2p) and MP2 aug-cc-pVDZ levels for both stable forms of dimedone. Experimental FT-IR spectra of dimedone have also been recorded in the same solvents. A new approach was developed in order to determine tautomers' ratio using both experimental and theoretical data in Lambert-Beer equation. Obtained results were compared with experimental results published in literature. It has been concluded that while DFT 6-31+G(d,p) method provides accurate enol ratio in DMSO, MeOH, and DCM, in order to obtain accurate results for the other solvents the MP2 aug-cc-pVDZ level calculations should be used for CH₃CN and CHCl₃ solutions.

MeSH terms

  • Cyclohexanones / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Quantum Theory
  • Solutions
  • Solvents
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / methods*

Substances

  • Cyclohexanones
  • Solutions
  • Solvents
  • dimedone