On tautomerism of the cytosine molecule

Tautomerism of the cytosine molecule is discussed in connection with recent experimental matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopic measurements and recent ab initio calculations of relative stabilities of tautomers and of IR spectra for different tautomeric forms of the compound. Experimental IR spectra in the N-H and O-H stretching regions and in the C = O stretching region are presented for cytosine and for its several derivatives considered as model compounds. This experimental evidence, as well as the quantum-mechanical calculations (including both electron correlation and zero-point vibrational contributions), clearly indicate that two tautomers of cytosine, i.e. the amino-hydroxy and amino-oxo forms with the hydrogen atom at the N(1) position, exist in equilibrium when the cytosine molecule is isolated in an inert environment. The effect of the environment on the relative stabilities of several tautomers is also discussed briefly.