Photoinduced tautomerism of 2,6-dicarbomethoxyphenol in DMF–water mixtures: Perturbation from intermolecular processes

In this paper, we report the spectral signatures of photoinduced tautomerism of 4-methyl-2,6-dicarbomethoxyphenol (CMOH) in DMF–water mixtures with varying compositions. Excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction of CMOH has been observed in bulk DMF, indicated by dual fluorescence from its normal and tautomeric forms while only a single emission peak is observed in water from its anionic species. Binary mixture of a polar aprotic (DMF) and a polar protic (water) solvent gives rise to a competition between intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonding (with media) processes of the probe. This competition is found to be largely dependent on the proton affinity of the media and also on the excitation energy. Solvent separated ion pair and intermolecularly H-bonded CMOH–Solvent complex have been detected in the excited state at specific solvent compositions that are converted to the anionic form due to the change in excitation wavelengths. The formation of hydrogen bonded 1:1 molecular clusters of different rotamers of CMOH with DMF and water in the ground state has been investigated using quantum chemical calculations. A combined experimental and theoretical analysis indicates that the HOMO to LUMO transitions dictate the electronic absorption profiles of the CMOH–DMF and CMOH–water clusters. These findings are expected to shed light on the mechanism of acid–base reactions of several hydrogen bonded systems that are part of many biologically relevant processes. -- Highlights: •Photoinduced tautomerization of CMOH has been studied in DMF–water mixture. •CMOH forms 1:1 molecular clusters with DMF and water. •The competition between intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding is revealed. •HOMO to LUMO transition dictates the absorption spectra of CMOH in DMF and water