Synthesis, molecular structure, FT-IR and XRD investigations of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl 2-chlorobenzoate: A comparative DFT study

•Synthesis of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl 2-chlorobenzoate.•FT-IR, single-crystal XRD and quantum chemical calculations of the compound.•According to conformational energy barrier, the flip form is not preferred.•Compound crystallizes in orthorhombic space group Pbca with the flat form.•Unit cell dimensions: a, b, c = 12.312(5), 8.103(3), 27.565(11) Å.

2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl 2-chlorobenzoate has been synthesized, its structural and vibrational properties have been reported using FT-IR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The conformational analysis, optimized geometric parameters, normal mode frequencies and corresponding vibrational assignments of the synthesized compound (C15H10Cl2O3) have been examined by means of Becke-3–Lee–Yang–Parr (B3LYP) density functional theory (DFT) method together with 6-31++G(d,p) basis set. Furthermore, reliable conformational investigation and vibrational assignments have been made by the potential energy surface (PES) and potential energy distribution (PED) analyses, respectively. Calculations are performed with two possible conformations. The title compound crystallizes in orthorhombic space group Pbca with the unit cell dimensions a = 12.312(5) Å, b = 8.103(3) Å, c = 27.565(11) Å, V = 2750.0(19) Å3. B3LYP method provides satisfactory evidence for the prediction of vibrational wavenumbers and structural parameters.

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