Cinnamoyl pyrones in proton-donating media: electronic structure and spectral properties of protolytic forms.

Spectral properties of cinnamoyl pyrone (CP) and its derivatives were studied in water-alcohol and water solutions within a wide pH/H(0) range. It was found that the most of CP may exist in neutral, anionic and cationic forms, except for alkylamino substituted CP, which can also form dications. The constants characterizing equilibria between all the protolytic forms were obtained.