Proton tautomerism and stereoisomerism in 5-[(dimethylamino)methylidene]-4-[3/4-(trifluoromethylphenyl)amino]-1,3- thiazol-2(5H)-ones: synthesis, crystal structure and spectroscopic studies

5-[(Dimethylamino)methylidene]-4-{[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]amino}-1,3-thiazol-2(5H)-one and the [4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]amino derivative, both C13H12F3N3OS, with the trifluoromethyl group substituted at the arene ring at the meta and para positions, were synthesized to study the structural changes associated with proton tautomerism of the amidine system. The studied compounds were found to be in the amine tautomeric form in both the solid and the liquid (dimethyl sulfoxide solutions) phase. In both isomers, the [(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]amino residue assumes a synperiplanar conformation with respect to the thiazolone system, while the 5-[(dimethylamino)methylidene] residue adopts the Z configuration. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations correctly predicted that the synperiplanar arrangement is favoured in both isomers. In the crystal, the whole independent molecule of the para compound is disordered over two alternative positions, with occupancy factors of 0.926 (3) and 0.074 (3).