Equilibrium and activation energetics, and molecular structures in the water-catalysed lactim–lactam tautomerism of 2-pyridone: an ab initio molecular orbital study

Abstract

The calculated energetics of the lactim–lactam tautomerism of 2-pyridone via a mechanism involving two water molecules are consistent with the experimental values; the nature of the transition state is intermediate between that expected for a fully concerted and for a sequential proton transfer mechanism.