Theoretical Study of the ESIPT Process for a New Natural Product Quercetin

The investigation of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) has been carried out via the density functional theory (DFT) and the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) method for natural product quercetin in dichloromethane (DCM) solvent. For distinguishing different types of intramolecular interaction, the reduced density gradient (RDG) function also has been used. In this study, we have clearly clarified the viewpoint that two kinds of tautomeric forms (K1, K2)originated from ESIPT processconsist inthe first electronic excited state (S1). The phenomenon of hydrogen bonding interaction strengtheninghas been proved by comparing the changes of infrared (IR) vibrational spectra and bond parameters of the hydrogen bonding groups in the ground state with that in the first excited state. The frontier molecular orbitals (MOs)provided visual electron density redistribution have further verified the hydrogen bond strengthening mechanism. It should be noted that the ESIPT process of the K2 form is easier to occur than that of the K1 form via observing the potential energy profiles. Furthermore, the RDG isosurfaces has indicated that hydrogen bonding interaction of the K2 form is stronger than that of the K1 formin the S1 state, which is also the reason why the ESIPT process of the K2 form is easier to occur.