NH Tautomers Research Articles

ТЕОРЕТИЧЕСКОЕ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ N1H ТАУТОМЕРА КАРНОЗИНА В ЦВИТТЕРИОННОЙ ФОРМЕ

. In the present work, the spatial and electronic structures of the lowest energy conformation of the carnosine N1H tautomer in the zwitterionic form, which has a wide range of applications, have been studied. The calculations were performed by the DFT quantum-chemical method based on the B3LYP hybrid functional and the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set in gas, water, and DMSO using the Gaussian 09 and GaussView 6.0.16 programs. The geometry parameters, values of electronic energy, dipole moments, values of partial charges on atoms, HOMO and LUMO energies, descriptors of reactivity of a molecule were calculated and NBO analysis is carried out. The molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps and frontier orbitals were visualized. The structural and electronic rearrangements in the molecule and changes in various parameters depending on the dielectric constant of the medium were analyzed. It was found that the influence of the solvent does not play a significant role for this structure, very similar results were obtained for the aqueous medium and DMSO. However, the optimization of the geometry of this carnosine zwitterion tautomer in the gas phase, led to the elimination of the hydrogen atom from the terminal NH3+ group and its addition to the COO- group, actually converting the zwitterionic form into a neutral one.

Crystal structure, tautomerism and photostability of 2-(2-pyridyl)-phenalene-1,3-dione

Tautomerism of cyclic β-diketones has been of scientific interest for decades due to the practical applications it can render, from sensors to photostable materials. In this work the tautomerism of 2-(2-pyridyl)-phenalene-1,3-dione (PPD) was studied in solid state, in solution, and in gas phase through a combination of experimental and theoretical methods. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of PPD revealed its existence in diketo form in the solid state with protonated pyridyl nitrogen that is stabilized by the intramolecular hydrogen bond of N-H···O type. A very large Stokes shift was observed in the emission spectra in DMSO (ca. 177 nm) and in ethanol (ca. 160 nm), indicating on possible excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. DFT calculations in ground state (gas phase and water medium) and in the excited singlet state (B3LYP-6311++G(d,p)) agree very well with the experimental data and suggest reverse order of the possible OH and NH tautomers in the ground and the excited singlet state, namely the diketo NH tautomer is the most stable one in the ground state whereas in the excited singlet state the enol OH form is more stable. The photostability of PPD was estimated by irradiation experiments that were performed in comparison with 2-acetylindan-1,3-dione (2AID), which is a compound with proven high photostability in ethanol and fast ESIPT. The data showed that unlike 2AID, the 2-(2-pyridyl)-phenalene-1,3-dione exhibits lower photostability in ethanol. These results could suggest that either the ESIPT process is not the only transformation that takes place in the excited state of PPD, or it is not as fast as the one of 2AID.

Reaction of quinaldine with 4,6-di(tert-butyl)-3-nitro-1,2-benzoquinone. Dependence of the outcome on the reaction conditions and a deeper insight into the mechanism

Condensation of quinaldine with 4,6-di (tert-butyl)-3-nitro-1,2-benzoquinone results in the formation of 5,7-di (tert-butyl)-2-(quinoline-2-yl)-1,3-tropolone, 5,7-di (tert-butyl)-4-nitro-2-(quinoline-2-yl)-1,3-tropolone, 3,3-dimethyl-2-(5-hydroxy-4-nitro-3-tert-butyl-6-quinoline-2-yl-pyridine-2-yl)butanoic acid, 6-(2,2-dimethylprop-3-yl)-5-tert-butyl-4-nitro-2-(quinoline-2-yl)-pyridine-3-ol, 1,7-di (tert-butyl)-3-(quinoline-2-yl)-2-azabicyclo-[3.3.0]octa-2,7-diene-4,6-dione-N-oxide. The formation of 1,3-tropolone and pyridine-2-yl butanoic acid derivatives proceeds through a ring expansion and 2-azabicyclo [3.3.0]octa-2,7-diene-4,6-dione-N-oxide via the contraction of the o-quinone ring. The structure of the heterocyclic compounds obtained was justified by X-ray diffraction analysis, NMR spectroscopy, IR- and HRMS-spectrometry, and the proposed mechanisms of their formation include the participation of an intermediate product of the expansion reaction of the o-quinone cycle - 5,7-di (tert-butyl)-4-nitro-2-(quinoline-2-yl)-cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene-1,3-diol, which was first isolated preparatively. The DFT/B3LYP/6–311++G** methods were used to determine the thermodynamic stability of tautomeric forms of intermediate products, as well as the relative stability of NH and OH tautomers of 5,7-di (tert-butyl)-2-(quinolin-2-yl)-1,3-tropolone and 5,7-di (tert-butyl)-4-nitro-2-(quinolin-2-yl)-1,3-tropolone.

Reorganization of the intramolecular hydrogen bonding network in 1,14-di(arylamino)-5,10-di(ethoxycarbonyl)-tripyrrins

Recently we have reported that 1,14-diaminated tripyrrins form a double helical structure via interstrand hydrogen bonding interaction in non-polar solvents. In this work, ethoxycarbonyl-substituted 1,14-di(arylamino)tripyrrins were prepared by nucleophilic substitution reaction. The structure has been revealed by X-ray analysis to be a ([Formula: see text]-syn, [Formula: see text]-syn) conformer stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the pyrrolic NH proton and the ester carbonyl oxygen atom. This conformer was likely formed as a meta-stable state in solution since thermal isomerization into a ([Formula: see text]-syn, [Formula: see text]-syn) conformer was observed in DMSO via NH tautomerization.

Analysing a billion reactions with the RInChI

Abstract The RInChI is a canonical identifier for reactions which is widely used in reaction databases. It can be used to handle large collections of reactions and to link information from diverse data sources. How much information can it handle? Studies of the SAVI database, which contains more than a billion reactions, demonstrate that the RInChI is useful in analysing such a large collection of molecular data, and the reduced form of the Web-RInChIKey contains enough information to be an effective differentiator of reactions. Issues of NH tautomerism and stereochemistry are handled effectively. The RInChI illustrates that some of the properties of the algorithmically-generated SAVI database differ from SPRESI, which is a collection of experimental data. The RInChI has different properties to Reaction SMILES and both approaches provide useful and distinct information. We recommend that the RInChI be included in data models for reactions.

Structural and thermochemical consequences of prototropy and ionization for the biomolecule xanthine in vacuo

The complete prototropic tautomeric mixture for xanthine (X), one of intermediates of nucleic acids degradation, have been investigated for the first time. Fifteen NH and twenty-eight CH tautomers, including rotamers of OH groups, have been considered to select the most potential ones for one-electron oxidation (X → X+ + e) and one-electron reduction (X + e → X−). For selected isomers, thermochemistry of prototropy and redox processes have been studied at the DFT(B3LYP)/6–311+G(d,p) level. The DFT calculations provide a new important information on isomeric composition of redox forms (X+ and X−) and also on ionization processes for X in vacuo. Positive ionization favors the dioxo NH tautomer – the main form for X, but also, it increases the stability of one hydroxy-oxo isomer – neglected for X. Although the CH tautomers can be neglected for both X and X+, some of them have very low energies for X− and dramatically change tautomeric preferences. They seem to dictate thermochemistry of negative ionization. Variations of bonds lengths for selected neutral and ionized xanthine-isomers have been examined at the DFT level by employing the geometry-based HOMED (Harmonic Oscillator Model of Electron Delocalization) descriptor, recently extended for heterocompounds. The HOMED indices seem to be parallel to the relative Gibbs energies only for the dioxo NH and CH isomers. For the mono- and di-hydroxy forms, scatter plots exist.

Tailoring the Intersystem Crossing and Triplet Dynamics of Free-Base Octaalkyl-β-oxo-Substituted Porphyrins: Competing Effects of Spin-Vibronic and NH Tautomerism Relaxation Channels.

We demonstrate that β-oxo-substitution provides effective fine-tuning of both steady-state and transient electronic properties of octaalkyl-β-mono-oxochlorin and all isomers of the β,β′-dioxo-substituted chromophores. The addition of a carbonyl group increases the Qy oscillator strength and red-shifts the absorption spectra. Each oxo-substitution results in a 2-fold increase in the singlet to triplet state intersystem crossing (ISC) rates, resulting in a 4-fold ISC rate increase for the dioxo-substituted chromophores. The effects of oxo-substitution on the ISC rate are thus additive. The progressive increase in the ISC rates correlates directly with the spin–vibronic channels provided by the C=O out-of-plane distortion modes, as evidenced by density functional theory (DFT) modeling. The triplet states, however, were not evenly affected by β-oxo-substitution, and reduction in the triplet lifetime seems to be influenced instead by the presence of NH tautomers in the dioxoisobacteriochlorins.

Solvent Effect on the Stability and Reverse Substituent Effect in Nitropurine Tautomers

The solvent effect on the stability and electron-accepting properties (EA) of the nitro group attached to the C2, C6, or C8 position of nitropurine NH tautomers is investigated. For this purpose, the density functional theory (DFT) and the polarizable continuum model (PCM) of solvation in a wide range of solvents (1 < ε < 109) are used. We show that the EA properties of the NO2 group, described by the charge of the substituent active region (cSAR) model, are linearly dependent on the reciprocal of the solvent dielectric constant; in all cases, solvation enhances the EA properties of this group. Furthermore, the sensitivity of EA properties of the nitro group to the solvent effect depends on the proximity effects. It has been shown that the proximity of two endocyclic N atoms (two repulsive interactions) results in higher sensitivity than the asymmetric proximity of the endocyclic N atom and NH group (one repulsive and one attractive interaction). To explain this phenomenon, the geometry of the nitro group in coplanar form and after forcing its rotation around the CN bond is discussed. Relative stabilities of nitropurine tautomers in different solvents are also presented. Differences in the stabilities and solvation energies are explained by aromaticity, electronic structure, and intramolecular interactions of the nitropurine tautomers.

Structural characterization of hydrogen bonding for antipyrine derivatives: Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and theoretical studies

Objectives. The paper is devoted to the crystal structure characterization of 5-methyl-2-phenyl4H-pyrazol-3-one (compound I) and 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-methyl-4H-pyrazol-3-one (compound II).Methods. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies and theoretical calculations: Density functional theory and quantum theory of atoms in molecules.Results. In the solid state, the crystal structure of compound I is characterized by the alternation of OH and NH tautomers connected via O–H---O and N–H---N hydrogen bonds. For compound II, the existence of chains built from the NH monomers via hydrogen bonding can be explained by the peculiarities of cooperative effects. In the framework of quantum theory of atoms in molecules, the following topological characteristics are calculated for all dimers: electron density, Laplacian of electron density, density of kinetic, potential, and total energy in the critical point of the intermolecular hydrogen bond. It is concluded that the hydrogen bond in dimers 1–4, 7 (compound I), and 8–11 (compound II) can be assigned to the intermediate (between covalent and dispersion types) interaction owing to hydrogen bond formation with the participation of electronegative oxygen- (and/or nitrogen-) atoms, whereas H-bond in dimers 5 and 6 (compound I) can be attributed to the dispersion one (no hydrogen bond formation or weak H-bond formation), and it represents the weak interaction, being in agreement with length for intermolecular hydrogen bond in dimers. The electron density and total energy density values demonstrate that the strongest intermolecular H-bonds take place in dimers 1 (OH---O), 4 (OH---O), 7 (OH---N), 8 (OH---O), 9 (NH---N), and 11 (OH---N). The results obtained for compounds I and II are compared with data for antipyrine (1,2-dihydro-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-3H-pyrazol-3-one; compound III)Conclusions. An important role of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the crystal packing, molecule association and self-organization via dimer- or more extended species formation has been demonstrated.

Dual Emission of a Free‐Base 5‐Oxaporphyrinium Cation from its cis‐ and trans‐NH Tautomers

AbstractReplacement of the meso methine carbon atoms of porphyrins with heteroatoms is a powerful strategy for tuning their optical and electronic properties. In particular, 5‐oxaporphyrin is an attractive target due to its importance as an intermediate in heme catabolism. In this work, we describe the synthesis and properties of a free‐base 5‐oxaporphyrinium cation, which was prepared by the ring‐closure of a bilindione with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride. This free‐base 5‐oxaporphyrinium cation exhibits dual fluorescence originating from its unique NH tautomerism. In contrast to normal porphyrins, the cis form of the 5‐oxaporphyrinium cation is more stable than the trans form due to the effective delocalization of its positive charge. We thus demonstrate here that meso‐modified heteroporphyrins enable the manipulation of NH tautomerism in porphyrinic macrocycles.

Dual Emission of a Free-Base 5-Oxaporphyrinium Cation from its cis- and trans-NH Tautomers.

Replacement of the meso methine carbon atoms of porphyrins with heteroatoms is a powerful strategy for tuning their optical and electronic properties. In particular, 5-oxaporphyrin is an attractive target due to its importance as an intermediate in heme catabolism. In this work, we describe the synthesis and properties of a free-base 5-oxaporphyrinium cation, which was prepared by the ring-closure of a bilindione with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride. This free-base 5-oxaporphyrinium cation exhibits dual fluorescence originating from its unique NH tautomerism. In contrast to normal porphyrins, the cis form of the 5-oxaporphyrinium cation is more stable than the trans form due to the effective delocalization of its positive charge. We thus demonstrate here that meso-modified heteroporphyrins enable the manipulation of NH tautomerism in porphyrinic macrocycles.

NH Tautomerism of N-Confused Porphyrin: Solvent/Substituent Effects and Isomerization Mechanism.

The effects of substituents and solvents on the NH tautomerism of N-confused porphyrin (2) were investigated. The structures, electronic states, and aromaticity of NH tautomers (2-2H and 2-3H) were studied by absorption and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H, 13C, and 15N) spectroscopies, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and theoretical calculations. The relative stability of the tautomers is highly affected by solvents, with the 3H-type tautomer being more stable in nonpolar solvents, while the 2H-type tautomer being highly stabilized in polar solvents with high donor numbers such as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), pyridine, and acetone. Electron-withdrawing groups on the meso-aryl substituents as well as the methyl group at the ortho position also stabilize the 2H-type tautomer. Kinetically, the tautomerism rate is significantly influenced by solvent and concentration, and a particularly large activation entropy (ΔS⧧) is obtained in pyridine. The first-order deuterium isotope effect on the reaction rates of NH tautomerism (kH/kD) is determined to be 2.4 at 298 K. On the basis of kinetic data, the mechanism of isomerization is identified as an intramolecular process, including the rotation of the confused pyrrole in pyridine/chloroform and DMF/chloroform mixed solvent systems, and as a pyridine-mediated process in pyridine alone.

Experimental and theoretical study on structure-tautomerism among edaravone, isoxazolone, and their heterocycles derivatives as antioxidants

Edaravone is a heterocyclic pyrazolone compound. It has pronounced effect against free radicals, however renal and hepatic disorders have been reported. Isoxazolones are considered bioisosteric analogues of pyrazolones and may have comparable properties. Thus, we investigated the structural and electronic influences for edaravone, isoxazolone, and their tautomers on antioxidant process. Structure and tautomerism study among edaravone, isoxazolone and their heterocycles derivatives were related to antioxidant mechanisms by using the hybrid DFT method B3LYP with the basis sets 6-31++G(2d,2p). The CH tautomer was the most stable and energetically favored among them. Intramolecular NHN hydrogen bonds and polar medium were responsible for the low energy differences among all possible tautomers. NH tautomers in both systems proved to be better antioxidant by SET (single electron transfer), while OH tautomers were better antioxidant on HAT (homolytic hydrogen atom transfer) mechanism. Theoretical calculation showed that edaravone is more potent than phenylisoxazolone, however, both has similar antioxidant scavenging on experimental DPPH. The carbonyliminic system played a very important role in the antioxidant activity for both studied classes.

Rational Synthesis of 5,10-Diazaporphyrins via Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions of α,α′-Dibromotripyrrin and Dihydrogenation to Give 5,10-Diazachlorins

We report here the first rational synthesis of 5,10-diazaporphyrins via nucleophilic substitution reactions of α,α'-dibromotripyrrin. Uses of 1,3-diiminoisoindoline and 3,4-di(ethylsulfanyl)pyrrole-2,5-diimine as nucleophiles allowed for synthesis of 5,10-diazabenzoporphyrin (2) and 5,10-diaza-7,8-di(ethylsulfanyl)porphyrin (3). 3 was reduced to 5,10-diazaporphyrin (4), 5,10-diaza-2,3-dihydrogenated porphyrin (5), and 5,10-diaza-7,8-dihydrogenated porphyrin (6) with yields that were dependent upon reduction conditions. All the structures of these products were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Their optical and electrochemical properties have been comparatively studied with those of 5,15-diazaporphyrin (7) and 5,15-diazachlorin (8). Furthermore, NH tautomers of 2 and 4 were observed as different species in solution, and the dynamic NH tautomeric behavior was studied in 4.

Single-molecule tautomerization tracking through space- and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy

Tautomerization, the interconversion between two constitutional molecular isomers, is ubiquitous in nature1, plays a major role in chemistry2 and is perceived as an ideal switch function for emerging molecular-scale devices3. Within free-base porphyrin4, porphycene5 or phthalocyanine6, this process involves the concerted or sequential hopping of the two inner hydrogen atoms between equivalent nitrogen sites of the molecular cavity. Electronic and vibronic changes6 that result from this NH tautomerization, as well as details of the switching mechanism, were extensively studied with optical spectroscopies, even with single-molecule sensitivity7. The influence of atomic-scale variations of the molecular environment and submolecular spatial resolution of the tautomerization could only be investigated using scanning probe microscopes3,8-11, at the expense of detailed information provided by optical spectroscopies. Here, we combine these two approaches, scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and fluorescence spectroscopy12-15, to study the tautomerization within individual free-base phthalocyanine (H2Pc) molecules deposited on a NaCl-covered Ag(111) single-crystal surface. STM-induced fluorescence (STM-F) spectra exhibit duplicate features that we assign to the emission of the two molecular tautomers. We support this interpretation by comparing hyper-resolved fluorescence maps15-18(HRFMs) of the different spectral contributions with simulations that account for the interaction between molecular excitons and picocavity plasmons19. We identify the orientation of the molecular optical dipoles, determine the vibronic fingerprint of the tautomers and probe the influence of minute changes in their atomic-scale environment. Time-correlated fluorescence measurements allow us to monitor the tautomerization events and to associate the proton dynamics to a switching two-level system. Finally, optical spectra acquired with the tip located at a nanometre-scale distance from the molecule show that the tautomerization reaction occurs even when the tunnelling current does not pass through the molecule. Together with other observations, this remote excitation indicates that the excited state of the molecule is involved in the tautomerization reaction path.

On the 4‐methylimidazole behavior at a copper electrode: A view from surface‐enhanced Raman scattering

AbstractSurface enhanced raman scattering (SERS) spectra of 4‐methylimidazole (4‐MeImid) are shown for the first time on a copper electrode and in the presence of chloride. The potential dependence on the spectra reveals that the N1H tautomer is majority close to the open circuit, but the N3H tautomer predominates at more cathodic polarizations. At these latter conditions, 4‐MeImid orientation changes from tilted to perpendicular, and such a behavior is similar to the one of Imid at natural pH. Interesting issues are observed at pH = 2.0: (a) 4‐MeImidH+ is not identified on the metal surface for the whole applied potential range and must be either adsorbed as an ion pair with chloride or in the bulk solution; (b) at open circuit and anodic polarization, its neutral form is the unique azole species present, in contrast to the ImidH+ behavior, which is easily observed in the surface spectra.

N-Confused Porphyrin-aza-Dipyrrin Chimera: A Versatile Metal Coordination Ligand Using its Unique NH Tautomerism.

A novel N-confused porphyrin (NCP) analogue bearing an external aza-dipyrrin-like coordination site was synthesized by a Schiff-base forming reaction of N-confused oxoporphyrin and 2-aminopyridine derivatives. The chimera molecule enhances the intrinsic NH tautomerism of NCP to enable four possible tautomeric structures, three of which were identified by metal coordination.

Application of the Extended HOMED (Harmonic Oscillator Model of Aromaticity) Index to Simple and Tautomeric Five-Membered Heteroaromatic Cycles with C, N, O, P, and S Atoms

The geometry-based HOMA (Harmonic Oscillator Model of Aromaticity) descriptor, based on the reference compounds of different delocalizations of n- and π-electrons, can be applied to molecules possessing analogous bonds, e.g., only CC, only CN, only CO, etc. For compounds with different heteroatoms and a different number of CC, CX, XX, and XY bonds, its application leads to some discrepancies. For this reason, the structural descriptor was modified and the HOMED (Harmonic Oscillator Model of Electron Delocalization) index defined. In 2010, the HOMED index was parameterized for compounds with C, N and O atoms. For parametrization, the reference molecules of similar delocalizations of n- and π-electrons were employed. In this paper, the HOMED index was extended to compounds containing the CP, CS, NN, NP, PP, NO, NS, PO, and PS bonds. For geometrical optimization of all reference molecules and of all investigated heterocompounds, the same quantum–chemical method {B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)} was used to eliminate errors of the HOMED estimation. For some tautomeric systems, the Gn methods were also employed to confirm tautomeric preferences. The extended HOMED index was applied to five-membered heterocycles, simple furan and thiophene, and their N and P derivatives as well as for tautomeric pyrrole and phosphole and their N and P derivatives. The effects of additional heteroatom(s) in the ring on the HOMED values for furan are parallel to those for thiophene. For pyrroles, aromaticity dictates the tautomeric preferences. An additional N atom in the ring only slightly affects the HOMED values for the favored and well delocalized NH tautomers. Significant changes take place for their rare CH forms. When intramolecular proton-transfer is considered for phosphole and its P derivatives, the PH tautomers seem to be favored only for 1,2,3-triphosphole/1,2,5-triphosphole and for 1,2,3,5-tetraphosphole. For other phospholes, the CH forms have smaller Gibbs energies than the PH isomers. For phosphazoles, the labile proton in the favored form is linked to the N atom. The PH forms have smaller HOMED indices than the NH tautomers but higher than the CH ones.

Anion control of tautomeric equilibria: Fe-H vs. N-H influenced by NH···F hydrogen bonding.

Counterions can play an active role in chemical reactivity, modulating reaction pathways, energetics and selectivity. We investigated the tautomeric equilibrium resulting from protonation of Fe(PEtNMePEt)(CO)3 (PEtNMePEt = (Et2PCH2)2NMe) at Fe or N. Protonation of Fe(PEtNMePEt)(CO)3 by [(Et2O)2H]+[B(C6F5)4]- occurs at the metal to give the iron hydride [Fe(PEtNMePEt)(CO)3H]+[B(C6F5)4]-. In contrast, treatment with HBF4·OEt2 gives protonation at the iron and at the pendant amine. Both the FeH and NH tautomers were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Addition of excess BF4 - to the equilibrium mixture leads to the NH tautomer being exclusively observed, due to NH···F hydrogen bonding. A quantum chemical analysis of the bonding properties of these systems provided a quantification of hydrogen bonding of the NH to BF4 - and to OTf-. Treatment of Fe(PEtNMePEt)(CO)3 with excess HOTf gives a dicationic complex where both the iron and nitrogen are protonated. Isomerization of the dicationic complex was studied by NOESY NMR spectroscopy.

Organo-Aluminum and Zinc Acetamidinates: Preparation, Coordination Ability, and Ring-Opening Polymerization Processes of Cyclic Esters.

The reaction of the highly sterically demanding NNN'-heteroscorpionate protioligands pbptamd-H, tbptamd-H, and phbptamd-H (a) and the low sterically hindered analogs pbpamd-H, tbpamd-H, and phbpamd-H (b), with 1 equiv of AlR3 (R = Me, Et) proceed in high yields to give two families of complexes: the mononuclear dialkyl aluminum bidentate-acetamidinates [AlR2(κ2- N' N')] (κ2- N' N' = pbptamd, R = Me 1, Et 2; tbptamd, R = Me 3, Et 4; phbptamd, R = Me 5, Et 6) and the monodentate-acetamidinates [AlR2(κ2- NN')] (κ2- NN' = tbpamd, R = Me 7; phbpamd, R = Me 8, Et 9). In complexes 7-9, the presence of two possible CH-NH tautomers as low extended π-N-C-N'(sp2)-Al and high extended π-HN-C2-N'(sp2)-Al complexes, respectively, could be identified. Moreover, the reaction of aluminum dimethyls 7 and 8 with ZnMe2 afforded the isolation of the more stable scorpionate zinc monoalkyls [Zn(Me)(κ3- NNN')] ( NNN' = tbpamd 10 and phbpamd 11), through a very unusual ligand exchange process, involving a zinc-to-aluminum transmetalation of an alkyl group. The X-ray crystal structures of 1, 3, 7, and 8, as well as that of 11, confirmed unambiguously the different κ2-arrangements proposed for bi- or monodentate acetamidinate dialkyls 1-6 and 7-9, respectively, the presence of NH tautomer in 7 and 8, and a κ3- NNN' coordination in monoalkyl 11. Density functional theory calculations were used to explore the three different favored κ2-arrangements found in acetamidinate aluminum dialkyls 1-9, the relative stability of both CH-NH tautomers, and the ligand transfer reaction leading to the formation of κ3- NNN' zinc monoalkyls 10 and 11. Interestingly, dialkyls 1, 5, 7, and 8 can act as highly efficient single-component living initiators for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and rac-lactide in mild conditions after hours. These initiators efficiently mediated the immortal polymerization in the presence of excess of benzyl alcohol (up to 20 equiv), as evidenced by the narrow dispersity values and the good agreement between the experimental Mn values and monomer/benzyl alcohol ratios. In addition, the most sterically hindered initiator, 5, exhibits enhanced levels of heteroselectivity on the produced PLAs, reaching Ps values up to 0.70.