FT-IR, FT-Raman spectra and quantum chemical calculations of some chloro substituted phenoxy acetic acids

In this work, we will report a combined experimental and theoretical study on molecular and vibrational structure of o-chlorophenoxy acetic acid (OCPAA) and p-chlorophenoxy acetic acids (PCPAA). The FT-IR and Fourier transform-Raman spectra of both the compounds was recorded in the solid phase. The optimized geometry was calculated by HF and B3LYP methods with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set and harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities and Raman scattering activities were calculated by density functional B3LYP method with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The scaled theoretical wavenumbers showed very good agreement with the experimental values. The thermodynamic functions of the title compounds were also performed at B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. A detailed interpretation of the infrared and Raman spectra of o-chloro and p-chlorophenoxy acetic acid is reported. The theoretical FT-IR spectrograms for the title molecules have been constructed. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.