Rationalization of the color properties of fluorescein in the solid state: a combined computational and experimental study

Abstract

Fluorescein is known to exist in three tautomeric forms defined as quinoid, zwitterionic and lactoid. In the solid state, the quinoid and zwitterionic forms give rise to red and yellow materials respectively. The lactoid form has not been crystallized pure, although its cocrystal and solvate forms exhibit colors ranging from yellow to green. An explanation for the observed colors of the crystals is found using a combination of UV/Vis spectroscopy and plane-wave DFT calculations. In addition, the role of cocrystal coformers in modifying crystal color is established. Several new crystal structures are determined using a combination of X-ray and electron diffraction, solid-state NMR and crystal structure prediction (CSP). The protocol presented herein may be used to predict color properties of materials prior to their synthesis.