Molecular structure, Mulliken charge, frontier molecular orbital and first hyperpolarizability analysis on 2-nitroaniline and 4-methoxy-2-nitroaniline using density functional theory

•The molecular geometry of 2NA and 4M2N were calculated at DFT method.•The frontier molecular orbital analysis helps to explain charge transfer interaction within the molecule.•The reactivity descriptors were evaluated and discussed about its stability.•The NLO property also calculated and compared.

In the present study, we made an attempt to calculate the energy gap, molecular dipole moment and first hyperpolarizability of 2-nitroaniline (2NA) and 4-methoxy-2-nitroaniline (4M2N) with a basis set 6-31G (d, p) function has been employed at density functional theory (DFT) methods. Geometry optimizations was carried out with DFT-B3LYP/6-31G (d, p), the results have revealed that intramolecular hydrogen bonding present in both the molecular system. We analyzed the energy gap, molecular dipole moment and hyperpolarizability changes due to substitution effect of the methoxy group in 2NA molecule. It is confirmed that strong electron acceptor and donor groups in a material yield higher NLO response.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide