Spectroscopic and theoretical studies of derivatives of 1,6- and 1,7-naphthyridines.

The solvatochromism in 8-hydroxy-1,6-naphthyridin-5(6H)-one-7-carboxylic acid methyl ester (1), 5-hydroxy-1,7-naphthyridin-8(7H)-one-6-carboxylic acid methyl ester (2), and 4-hydroxy-2-methyl-1(2H)-isoquinolone-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester (3), has been studied in solvents of different polarity and hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) ability. The relative stabilities of isomers for these naphthyridine derivatives and their interaction with the solvent are reported. Two intramolecular hydrogen-bonded structures contribute to the ground state of compound 1. Temperature effects on the absorption bands were recorded to analyse the possible equilibrium between covalent and zwitterionic forms. The formation of zwitterionic species was observed only in HBD solvents, from which is inferred the solvent assistance in the proton transference. AM1 and PM3 semi-empirical calculations were used in support of the proposed interpretations.