Synthesis, crystal growth, thermal, electronic and vibrational spectral studies of 1-(4-Bromophenyl)-3-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)prop-2-en-1-one: A density functional theory study

• A chalcone derivative, DMBC has been synthesized and crystals were grown.
• DFT calculations were used to obtain molecular geometry and vibrational wavenumbers.
• Site of chemical reactivity was studied by analyzing ESP surfaces.

A new chalcone derivative, 1-(4-Bromophenyl)-3-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (DMBC) was synthesized and single crystals were grown by slow evaporation technique. The FT-Raman and FT-IR spectra of the sample were recorded in the region 3500–50 cm−1 and 4000–400 cm−1 respectively. The spectra were interpreted with the aid of normal coordinate analysis, following structure optimizations and force field calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. Normal coordinate calculations were performed using the DFT force field corrected by a recommended set of scaling factors yielding fairly good agreement between the observed and calculated wavenumbers. DMBC is thermally stable up to 265.0 °C and optically transparent in the visible region. The total electron density and molecular electrostatic potential surfaces of the molecules were constructed by Natural Bond Orbital analysis using B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) method to display electrostatic potential (electron + nuclei) distribution, molecular shape, size, and dipole moments of the molecule. The electronic properties, HOMO and LUMO energies were measured.

Molecular electrostatic potential map of the molecule reflects the regions of the most negative electrostatic potential and high activity of the carbonyl group.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide