Effect of substituent position and lithium, sodium and potassium on the electronic structure of o-, m- and p-methoxybenzoic acids

We have studied the effect of the substituent position in the ring, and lithium, sodium and potassium ions on the electronic structure of o-, m- and p-methoxybenzoic acids (anisic acids) by the use of FT-IR. FT-Raman, Ar matrix FT-IR and H-1 NMR methods, and ab initio calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level of theory. Characteristic shifts of the bands in the spectra and changes in the band intensities along the metal and ligand series were observed. on the basis of the obtained results we may answer the questions: (1) do the substituents in the benzene ring influence the electronic charge distribution in the carboxylic group of anisic acids and alkali metal anisates, (2) do the metal ions affect the electronic charge distribution in the methoxy group, (3) in what way do the alkali metals affect the electronic system of o-, m- and p-anisic acids? The substitution of lithium, sodium and potassium ions in the carboxylic group of o-, m- and p-anisic acids causes changes in the values of bond lengths and angles, and in the electronic charge distribution in the carboxylic group, methoxy group and aromatic ring. The influence of alkali metals on the electronic structure of the ligands is weaker than the effect of methoxy substituents. The effect of Li, Na and K ions on the aromatic ring of the ligands is mostly noticeable in the case of the ortho isomer. The carboxylic and methoxy groups situated in ortho positions in the ring weaken the effect of the alkali metals on the electronic charge distribution in the carboxylic anion and methoxy group. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.