The electronic absorption spectra and the electronic structures of cytosine, isocytosine, and their anions and cations

Abstract

The electronic absorption spectra of cytosine and isocytosine have been measured in several solvents at room temperature, and the temperature and pH dependencies of the electronic absorption spectra in aqueous solution have also been examined, special attention being paid to the existence of tautomeric forms. Consequently, it is concluded that cytosine in aqueous solution takes 2-keto-6-amino (3H) form (I) at room temperature, but with rising temperature 2-keto-6-imino form (III) coexists with form I, the latter being determined to be more stable by 5.5 kcal/mole than the former, and that cytosine takes form I and form III in trimethyl phosphate and in acetonitrile, respectively. The change in stability of the tautomeric forms by different solvents has been discussed with regard to their calculated dipole moments due toπ-electrons and the polarity of the solvents.