Photothermal tautomerization of a UV sunscreen (4-tert-butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane) in acetonitrile studied by steady-state and laser flash photolysis.

The photothermal tautomerization processes between enol and keto forms of 4-tert-butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane (trade name, Avobenzone) in acetonitrile have been studied by steady-state and laser flash photolysis. The keto form is produced upon photolysis of the enol in only acetonitrile with a quantum yield of 0.014. The molar absorptivity of the keto form was determined. Phototautomerization from the keto to the enol form was not seen. Laser flash photolysis of the keto form recognized the formation of the triplet state. In the dark, the keto form underwent thermal tautomerization to the enol with a lifetime of 5.1 h at 295 K. The enolization rate in acetonitrile was not accelerated by the presence of alcohols and/or water but increased with increasing temperature and followed the Arrhenius expression. The activation energy and the frequency factor were determined for the enolization process from the keto to the enol form. On the basis of the energy states of the tautomers and isomers as estimated by DFT calculations, a schematic energy diagram was determined for the photothermal tautomerization processes in acetonitrile.