Matrix isolation FTIR spectroscopic and theoretical study of methyl lactate

Methyl lactate [CH(CH3)OHC(=O)OCH3] conformational space was investigated by extensive DFT/B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and MP2/6-31++G(d,p) calculations and matrix-isolation FTIR spectroscopy in argon and xenon matrices. From the seven different conformers predicted by the calculations, two forms (the most stable conformers yielded by the calculations: SsC and GskC, where the letters refer to the conformations assumed by the HOCC, OCC=O and O=COC dihedrals, respectively) were observed and characterized spectroscopically. Conformer interconversion pathways were also theoretically investigated. The low calculated barrier associated with the G'sk'C --> GskC conversion (similar to1 W mol(-1)) explains the absence of the third most stable form (G'sk'C) of methyl lactate in low-temperature matrices. Deposition of methyl lactate at different temperatures, together with the theoretical data, aided to the full assignment of the observed spectra. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.