Tautomerism in pyridazin-3(2H)-one: a theoretical study using implicit/explicit solvation models.

Abstract The tautomeric conversion of pyridazin-3(2H)-one 1 into pyridazin-3-ol 2 has been theoretically studied using density functional theory (DFT) methods at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level. Two mechanisms have been considered for this process: (i) one in which the hydrogen is directly transferred through TS12; and (ii) another one in which a double hydrogen transfer takes place via TS1122 upon formation of the corresponding dimer. The former requires a very high activation energy of 42.64 kcal/mol as a consequence of the strain associated with the formation of the four-membered TS12, while the latter requires a much lower activation energy, 14.66 kcal/mol. Implicit, explicit, and a combinat…