A combined DFT and SCRF study of solvent effects on 4-methyl-3-penten-2-one

The IR spectrum of 4-methyl-3-penten-2-one is interpreted with the aid of normal coordinate calculations within the Onsager self-consistent reaction field (SCRF) model, using a density functional theory (DFT) method at the Becke3LYP/6-31G* level. The solvent effects on the geometry, energy, dipole moment, and vibrational frequencies of 4-methyl-3-penten-2-one in the solution and in the liquid phase are calculated using the Onsager SCRF model. The calculated vibrational frequencies in the liquid-phase are in good agreement with the experimental values. The solvent reaction field has generally weak influence. For the two main bands of C=C and C=O mixed vibrational modes, small frequency shifts (5-6 cm(-1)), but relatively large changes in IR intensities (up to 101 km mol(-1) in the liquid phase) are found. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science BV. All rights reserved.