Tautomerism and ionization of carminic acid

Carminic acid exists as an equilibrium mixture of 9,10-, 1,4-, 1,10-, 2,9-, and 1,7-anthraquinoid tautomers. Its anions have 9,10-, 1,4-, 1,10-, and 2,9-anthraquinoid structures. No conformational equilibria were detected for carminic acid anions. Variation of the solvent and pH and ionization are accompanied by displacements of tautomeric equilibria. Shifts of the long-wave absorption maxima due to tautomeric transformations are determined mainly by change in the energy of the ground rather than excited states of molecules. © 2007 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.