Electronic structure, molecular electrostatic potentials, vibrational spectra in substituted calix[n]arenes (n = 4, 5) from density functional theory.

Electronic structure, molecular electrostatic potential, and vibrational frequencies of para-substituted calix[n]arene CX[n]-R (n = 4, 5; R = H, NH(2), t-Bu, CH(2)Cl, SO(3)H, NO(2)) and their thia analogs (S-CX[n]-R; with R = H and t-Bu) in which sulfur bridges two aromatic rings of CX[n] have been derived from the density functional theory. A rotation around CH(2) groups connecting the phenol rings engenders four, namely, cone, partial cone, 1,2-alternate, and 1,3-alternate CX[n]-R conformers. Of these, the cone conformer comprising of large number of O1-H1···O1' interactions turns out to be of lowest energy. Normal vibration analysis reveal the O1-H1 stretching frequency of unsubstituted CX[n] shifts to higher wavenumber (blue shift) on substitution of electron-withdrawing (NO(2) or SO(3)H) groups, while electron-donating substituents (NH(2), t-Bu) engender a shift of O1-H1 vibration in the opposite direction (red shift). The direction of frequency shifts have been analyzed using natural bond orbital analysis and molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) topography. Furthermore, calculated (1)H NMR chemical shift (δ(H)) in modified CX[n] hosts follow the order: H1 > H3/H5 > H7(a) > H7(b). The δ(H) values in CX[4] are in consonant with the observed (1)H NMR spectra.