Electronic absorption spectra and structure of hydroxycoumarin derivatives and their ionized forms

Electronic absorption spectra of 18 hydroxycoumarin derivatives and their ionized forms have been studied. Close agreement between experimental and the PPP CI calculated electron absorption band energies has been found in most cases. Strong polarization of the carbonyl function of the pyrone ring in the 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives, H-bonding between the hydroxyl group and neighboring substituent in the ortho-substituted hydroxycoumarins, as well as their tautomeric transformations, have been suggested in the discussion of the electronic absorption spectra of the hydroxycoumarin derivatives. in accord also with calculational results, ionization of the hydroxyl function leads to a bathochromic shift of the longest-wavelength absorption bands in the spectra of 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives. The ionization has no effect on the electronic absorption of the 4-hydroxycoumarin derivatives. Relative stabilities of the tautomeric forms of hydroxycoumarin derivatives and their ionized forms have also been compared by MNDO calculations.