Vibrational spectra and normal coordinate analysis of diazepam, phenytoin and phenobarbitone

Vibrational spectroscopy is an important tool for the structural investigation of the organic molecules. In the present investigation, a normal coordinate analysis has been carried out on some anti-epileptic drugs, viz. diazepam, phenytoin and phenobarbitone. Diazepam is a derivative of benzodiazepine, phenytoin is a derivative of hydanation and pheonobarbitone is a barbiturate. The infrared spectra of the compounds are recorded in the region 4000–400 cm−1 and Raman spectra are recorded in the region 3500–50 cm−1. From the structural point of view, diazepam, phenytoin and phenobarbitone have been assumed to Cs point group. A systematic set of symmetry coordinates has been constructed for these compounds and Wilson's FG matrix method has been applied for the normal coordinate analysis using general quadratic valance force field. The potential energy distribution is also calculated to check the vibrational band assignments.