Theoretical study of three predominant tautomers of 2-oxo-6-methylpurine and their two transition state structures

The three predominantly stable tautomers of 2-oxo-6-methylpurine were studied in gas phase and aqueous solution by means of quantum mechanical calculations. Two transition state structures connecting these three tautomeric forms on the free energy surface were determined. The activation free energy for the intramolecular proton transfer in gas phase was calculated to be considerably smaller than the bond energy of either N–H or O–H: 59.01 and 30.37 kcal/mol for N9→N3 and N1→O2, respectively, obtained at the QCISD(T)/6-31G+(d)//MP2(full)/6-31G(d) level of theory.