A Theoretical Investigation on N7(H)→N9(H) Tautomerization of Isolated and Monohydrated 2,6‐Dithiopurine Combined with IPCM Solvent Model

Abstract

AbstractThe tautomerization reaction mechanism has been reported between N7(H) and N9(H) of isolated and monohydrated 2,6‐dithiopurine using B3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p). The isodensity polarized continuum model (IPCM) in the self‐consistent reaction field (SCRF) method is employed to account for the solvent effect of water on the tautomerization reaction activation energies. The results show that the two pathways P(1) (via the carbene intermediate I1) and P(2) (via the sp3‐hybrid intermediate I2) are found in intramolecular proton transfer, and each pathway is composed by two primary steps. The calculated activation energy barriers of the rate‐determining steps in isolated 2,6‐dithiopurine N7(H)→N9(H) tautomerism are 308.2 and 220.0 kJ·mol−1 in the two pathways, respectively. Interestingly, in one‐water molecule catalyst, it dramatically lowers the N7(H)→N9(H) energy barriers by the concerted double proton transfer mechanism in P(1), favoring the formation of 2,6‐dithiopurine N9(H). However, the single proton transfer mechanism assisted with out‐of‐plane water in the first step of P(2) increases the activation energy barrier from 220.0 to 232.3 kJ·mol−1, while the second step is the out‐of‐plane concerted double proton transfer mechanism, indicating that they will be less preferable for proton transfer. Additionally, the results also show that all the pathways are put into the aqueous solution, and the activation energy barriers have no significant changes. Therefore, the long‐range electrostatic effect of bulk solvent has no significant impact on proton transfer reactions and the interaction with explicit water molecules will significantly influence proton transfer reactions.