TAUTOMERISM IN NAPHTHYLIDINE NAPHTHYLAMINE AND NAPHTHYLIDINE QUINOLINE AMINE

The UV-visible spectra of the two novel Schiff bases, naphthylidine na phthylamine and naphthylidine quinoline amine, were measured in differ ent solvents with different polarity. For naphthylidine naphthylamine in ethanol, the keto/enol ratio is nearly equal to one, while in non-p olar solvents the enol form dominates. In the case of naphthylidine qu inoline amine, it exists mainly in the keto form even in non-polar sol vents. This result, which is unusual and novel for such Schiff bases, is explained on the basis of hydrogen-bonding.