Tautomerism, structure and properties of 1,1′,1″-(2,4,6-trihydroxybenzene-1,3,5-triyl)triethanone

According to computational predictions 1,1′,1″-(2,4,6-trihydroxybenzene-1,3,5-triyl)triethanone (triacetylphloroglucinol) (TTT, form a) can exist in five tautomeric forms, among which 2,4,6-tris(1-hydroxyethylidene)-1,3,5-cyclohexanetrione (form e) exhibits thermodynamic stability comparable to that of form a. X-ray investigations reveal that the compound exists in form a in the crystalline solid phase. Analysis of the arrangement of atoms involved in the three intramolecular H-bonds, responsible for the stabilization of tautomer a by 55.4 kcal/mol, suggests that there could be fast H atom (proton) transfer within the hydrogen bonds, bringing about the transformation of a into e and vice versa. Such an effect could explain the unique behaviour and spectral properties of TTT in solutions.