Solvation environment effects on the photoisomerization equilibrium of the model tannins catechin and epicatechin as natural sunscreens in aquatic systems

Abstract

The photoisomerization equilibrium between the model tannins (-)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin in aqueous solution was investigated at the density functional level of theory to gain insights into the action of these compounds as natural sunscreens in aquatic systems. Increasing water temperature, as might be expected on seasonal and diurnal bases, is predicted to shift the equilibrium further in favor of catechin. The isomerization energy between catechin and epicatechin was also considered in a range of polar protic, polar aprotic, apolar protic, and apolar aprotic solvents using the solvation model based on density (SMD) and integral equation formalism polarizable continuum model (IEFPCM). The IEFPCM yielded a modest range in isomerization energies depending on solvent polarity or proticity, whereas a substantial variation was observed with the SMD. The SMD results suggest that the solvation environment around catechin and epicatechin will play a major role on the photoisomerization equilibrium between these two compounds. As the freely dissolved monomer in aquatic systems, the catechin–epicatechin photoisomerization equilibrium will be in the range of 11:1 to 14:1. In the less polar environments of associations with dissolved organic matter or within a larger tannin structural framework, the theoretical modeling efforts indicate that the catechin–epicatechin photoisomerization equilibrium could be as low as 3:1.