Catalysis by hydrogen chloride in the gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol and 3‐methyl‐1‐buten‐3‐ol

A homogeneous, molecular, gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol and 3‐methyl‐1‐ buten‐3‐ol catalyzed by hydrogen chloride in the temperature range 325–386 °C and pressure range 34–149 torr are described. The rate coefficients are given by the following Arrhenius equations: for 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol log k₁ (s^?1) = (11.01 ± 0.31) ? (109.5 ± 2.8) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1 and for 3‐methyl‐1‐buten‐3‐ol log k₁ (s^?1) = (11.50 ± 0.18) ? (116.5 ± 1.4) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1. Electron delocalization of the CH₂?CH and C₆H₅ appears to be an important effect in the rate enhancement of acid catalyzed tertiary alcohols in the gas phase. A concerted six‐member cyclic transition state type of mechanism appears to be, as described before, a rational interpretation for the dehydration process of these substrates. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

1,1,1‐Trichloro‐3‐(1‐phenethylamino‐ethylidene)‐ pentane‐2,4‐dione—synthesis,spectroscopic, theoretical and structural elucidation

1,1,1‐Trichloro‐3‐(1‐phenethylamino‐ethylidene)‐pentane‐2,4‐dione is spectroscopically and structurally elucidated by means of linear‐polarized IR spectroscopy (IR‐LD) of oriented solids as a colloidal suspension in nematic liquid crystal. Structural information and IR‐spectroscopic assignment are supported by quantum chemical calculations at MP2 and B3LYP level of theory and 6‐311++G** basis set. The geometry is characterized with an inramolecular hydrogen bond of NH^…O?C with length of 2.526 Å and a NHO angle of 140.5(1)°. The NH? C(CH₃)C?C? C?O(CH₃) fragment is nearly flat with a maximal deviation of total planarity of 10.4°. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Conformational analysis of 4,4‐dimethyl‐1‐(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)‐1,4‐azasilinane and 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐4‐(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)‐1,4,2,6‐oxazadisilinane

4,4‐Dimethyl‐1‐(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)‐1,4‐azasilinane 1 and 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐4‐(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)‐1,4,2,6‐oxazadisilinane 2 were studied by variable temperature dynamic ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations at the DFT (density functional theory) and MP2 (Møller‐Plesset 2) levels of theory. Both kinetic (barriers to ring inversion) and thermodynamic data (frozen conformational equilibria) could be obtained for the two compounds. The computations revealed two minima on the potential energy surface for molecules 1 and 2 corresponding to the rotamers with the CF₃SO₂ group directed ‘inward’ and ‘outward’ the ring, the latter being 0.2–0.4 kcal/mol (for 1 ) and 1.1 kcal/mol (for 2 ) more stable than the former. The vibrational calculations at the DFT and MP2 levels of theory give the values of the free energy difference ΔG^o for the ‘inward’ ‘outward’ equilibrium consistent with those determined from the experimentally measured ratio of the rotamers. The structure of crystalline compound 2 was ascertained by X‐ray diffraction analysis. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A combined experimental and density functional study of 1‐(arylsulfonyl)‐2‐R‐4‐chloro‐2‐butenes reactivity towards the allylic chlorine

Nucleophilic substitution and dehydrochlorination reactions of a number of the ring‐substituted 1‐(arylsulfonyl)‐2‐R‐4‐chloro‐2‐butenes are studied both experimentally and theoretically. The developed synthetic procedures are characterized by a general rapidity, cheapness, and simplicity providing moderate to high yields of 1‐arylsulfonyl 1,3‐butadienes (48–95%), 1‐(arylsulfonyl)‐2‐R‐4‐(N,N‐dialkylamino)‐2‐butenes (31–53%), 1‐(arylsulfonyl)‐2‐R‐2‐buten‐4‐ols (37–61%), and bis[4‐(arylsulfonyl)‐3‐R‐but‐2‐enyl]sulfides (40–70%). The density functional theory B3LYP/6‐311++G(2d,2p) calculations of the intermediate allylic cations in acetone revealed their high stability occurring from a resonance stabilization and hyperconjugation by the SO₂Ar group. The reactivity parameters estimated at the bond critical points of the diene/allylic moiety display a high correlation (R² > 0.97) with the Hammett (σ_p) constants. 1‐Arylsulfonyl 1,3‐butadienes are characterized by a partly broken π conjugated system, which follows from analysis of the two‐centered delocalization (δ) and localization (λ) index values. The highest occupied molecular orbital energies of 1‐arylsulfonyl 1,3‐butadienes are lower than those of 1,3‐butadiene explaining their low reactivity towards the Diels–Alder condensation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of gas‐phase decarbonylation of α‐methyl‐trans‐cinamaldehyde and E‐2‐methyl‐2‐pentenal under homogeneous catalysis of hydrogen chloride

The kinetics of the gas‐phase elimination of α‐methyl‐trans‐cinamaldehyde catalyzed by HCl in the temperature range of 399.0–438.7 °C, and the pressure range of 38–165 Torr is a homogeneous, molecular, pseudo first‐order process and undergoing a parallel reaction to produce via (A) α‐methylstyrene and CO gas and via (B) β‐methylstyrene and CO gas. The decomposition of substrate E‐2‐methyl‐2‐pentenal was performed in the temperature range of 370.0–410.0 °C and the pressure range of 44–150 Torr also undergoing a molecular, pseudo first‐order reaction gives E‐2‐pentene and CO gas. These reactions were carried out in a static system seasoned reactions vessels and in the presence of toluene free radical inhibitor. The rate coefficients are given by the following Arrhenius expressions:

• Products formation from α‐methyl‐trans‐cinamaldehyde
• α‐methylstyrene :
• β‐methylstyrene :
• Products formation from E‐2‐methyl‐2‐pentenal
• E‐2‐pentene :

The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for the thermal decomposition of α‐methyl‐trans‐cinamaldehyde suggest that via (A) proceeds through a bicyclic transition state type of mechanism to yield α‐methylstyrene and carbon monoxide, whereas via (B) through a five‐membered cyclic transition state to give β‐methylstyrene and carbon monoxide. However, the elimination of E‐2‐methyl‐2‐pentenal occurs by way of a concerted cyclic five‐membered transition state mechanism producing E‐2‐pentene and carbon monoxide. The present results support that uncatalyzed α‐β‐unsaturated aldehydes decarbonylate through a three‐membered cyclic transition state type of mechanism. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and vibrational study of 2‐(2′‐ furyl)‐4,5‐1H‐dihydroimidazole

In this study 2‐(2′‐furyl)‐4,5‐1H‐dihydroimidazole (1) was prepared and then characterized by infrared, Raman, and multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. The crystal and molecular structures of 1 were determined by X‐ray diffraction methods. The density functional theory (DFT) and second‐order Møller–Plesset theory (MP2) with Pople's basis set show that there are two conformers for the title molecule that have been theoretically determined in the gas phase, and that only one of them, conformer I, is present in the solid phase. NMR spectra observed for 1 were successfully compared with the calculated chemical shifts at the B3LYP/6‐311++G** level theorized for this conformer. The harmonic vibrational frequencies for the optimized geometry of the latter conformer were calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311++G** level in the approximation of the isolated molecule. For a complete assignment of the IR and Raman spectra in the solid phase of 1 , DFT calculations were combined with Pulay´s scaled quantum mechanics force field (SQMFF) methodology to fit the theoretical frequency values to the experimental ones. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and structural study of 2′‐ and 2′,6′‐positioned methyl‐ and nitro‐substituted 3‐(arylhydrazono)pentane‐2,4‐diones

A systematic series of ortho‐methyl‐ and nitro‐substituted arylhydrazones 2–6 formed by Japp–Klingemann reaction between pentane‐2,4‐dione and the respective aryldiazonium salts have been synthesized and studied by X‐ray crystal structure analysis, with added quantum chemical calculations. The optimized molecular geometries based on DFT calculations, enabling determination of relevant rotational barriers, and the calculated bond and ring critical points, using the method of ‘atoms in molecules’, were found to correspond with the experimental data, involving specific molecular conformations and hydrogen‐bonded ring structure dependent on the ortho‐substitution, thus making possible reliable structural prediction of this compound class. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Density functional theory calculations and vibrational spectra of 2‐bromo‐4‐chloro phenol and 2‐chloro‐4‐nitro phenol

FTIR and FT Raman spectra of 2‐bromo‐4‐chloro phenol (BCP) and 2‐chloro‐4‐nitro phenol (CNP) were recorded in the region 4000–400 and 4000–50 cm⁻¹, respectively. The molecular structure, geometry optimization, and vibrational wavenumbers were investigated. The spectra were interpreted with the aid of normal coordinate analysis based on density functional theory (DFT) using the standard B3LYP/6‐31G** method and basis set combination and was scaled using multiple scale factors, which yield good agreement between the observed and calculated wavenumbers. The results of the calculations are applied to simulate the infrared and Raman spectra of the title compounds, which showed excellent agreement with the observed spectra. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and vibrational analyses of 2‐(2‐benzofuranyl)‐2‐imidazoline

We have studied 2‐(2‐benzofuranyl)‐2‐imidazoline (BFI) and characterized it by using infrared and Raman spectroscopies. The density functional theory (DFT) method together with Pople's basis set shows that two conformers exist for the title molecule as have been theoretically determined in the gas phase and that, probably, an average of both conformations is present in the solid phase. The harmonic vibrational wavenumbers for the optimized geometry of the latter conformer were calculated at the B3LYP/6‐31G* level in the proximity of the isolated molecule. For a complete assignment of the IR and Raman spectra in the compound in the solid phase, DFT calculations were combined with Pulay's scaled quantum mechanics force field (SQMFF) methodology in order to fit the theoretical wavenumbers to the experimental ones. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

4‐Phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione in the ene reactions with cyclohexene, 1‐hexene and 2,3‐dimethyl‐2‐butene. The heat of reaction and the influence of temperature and pressure on the reaction rate

The values of the enthalpy (53.3; 51.3; 20.0 kJ mol^?1), entropy (?106; ?122; ?144 J mol^?1K^?1), and volume of activation (?29.1; ?31.0; ?cm³ mol^?1), the reaction volume (?25.0; ?26.6; ?cm³ mol^?1) and reaction enthalpy (?155.9; ?158.2; ?150.2 kJ mol^?1) have been obtained for the first time for the ene reactions of 4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione 1 , with cyclohexene 4 , 1‐hexene 6 , and with 2,3‐dimethyl‐2‐butene 8 , respectively. The ratio of the values of the activation volume to the reaction volume (?V^≠_corr/ΔV_{r ? n}) in the ene reactions under study, 1 + 4 → 5 and 1 + 6 → 7 , appeared to be the same, namely 1.16. The large negative values of the entropy and the volume of activation of studied reactions 1 + 4 → 5 and 1 + 6 → 7 better correspond to the cyclic structure of the activated complex at the stage determining the reaction rate. The equilibrium constants of these ene reactions can be estimated as exceeding 10¹⁸ L mol^?1, and these reactions can be considered irreversible. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photoinduced decarboxylation of 9‐oxo‐6,9‐dihydro[1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4‐f]quinoline‐8‐carboxylic acid

Photoinduced reactions of 9‐oxo‐6,9‐dihydro[1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4‐f]quinoline‐8‐carboxylic acid (SeQCA) were investigated in alkaline media (aqueous NaOH solutions) by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, following the in situ formation of paramagnetic species. According to UV–Vis and nuclear magnetic resonance investigations, protonation (pH ≈ 11) and deprotonation (pH ≈ 13) of the imino hydrogen of the 4‐pyridone moiety has to be considered, reflected also in the different EPR spectra observed upon irradiation. Photoinduced generation of radicals was found only for carboxylate substituted SeQCA; other studied selenadiazoloquinolone derivatives, together with those substituted at the C(8) position (R = H, COOCH₂CH₃, COOCH₃, COCH₃ or CN), did not generate paramagnetic species during exposure. Consequently, photodecarboxylation was suggested as the decisive step, accompanied by the decomposition of the selenadiazole ring, resulting in the formation of ortho‐hydroxylate anions. EPR parameters elucidated from experimental EPR spectra obtained at pH ≈ 11 and pH ≈ 13 indicate the formation of oxygen‐centered radicals at the decarboxylated 4‐pyridone ring. EPR spin trapping experiments with nitromethane confirmed a very effective photoinduced electron transfer from all the selenadiazoloquinolones investigated. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and X‐ray structures of unexpected 2‐O‐(5‐deoxy‐1,2‐O‐isopropylidene‐α‐D‐glucofuranos‐5‐yloxy)quinoxalines

Reaction of 3‐methyl‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone ( 4) and 2(1H)‐quinoxalinone ( 5) with 5,6‐anhydro‐1,2‐O‐isopropylidene‐ α‐D ‐glucofuranose 6 gives the unexpected O‐glucoquinoxalines derivatives by the intermediary novel intramolecular rearrangement of 5,6‐anhydro‐1,2‐O‐isopropylidene‐α‐D ‐glucofuranose to the corresponding 3,6‐anhydro form. The obtained O‐glucoquinoxalines 7,8 were identified by NMR spectroscopy. The X‐ray crystal structures have been determined at room temperature. Moreover, a solid–solid phase transition has been detected at 198.9 K for O‐glucoquinoxalines 7 and the structure of the low‐temperature phase has been solved at 188 K. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Isomerization and rearrangement of (E)‐ and (Z)‐phenylhydrazones of 3‐benzoyl‐5‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole: evidence for a ‘new’ type of acid‐catalysis by copper(II) salts in mononuclear rearrangement of heterocycles

A kinetic investigation in methanol of the title reaction has evidenced the occurrence of two processes: the 1‐ E 1‐ Z isomerization and the rearrangement of the (Z)‐isomer into the relevant 4‐benzoylamino‐2,5‐diphenyl‐1,2,3‐triazole ( 1‐ Z → T ). The latter reaction is in line with the ability of the (Z)‐phenylhydrazones of 3‐benzoyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles to undergo the so called mononuclear rearrangement of heterocycles (MRH). The occurrence of both the examined reactions is dependent on a Lewis‐acid‐catalysis. The obtained results have shown the possibility of a ‘new’ type of acid‐catalysis (bifunctional catalysis by Lewis salts) in the MRH. This catalysis operates through a completely different mechanism with respect to the one recently observed, and deeply investigated, in the presence of protic acids for the (Z)‐phenylhydrazone of 5‐amino‐3‐benzoyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole, in both dioxane/water and toluene, for which the catalytic process was dependent on the protonation of N(4) ring‐nitrogen of the 1,2,4‐oxadiazole. As a matter of fact, the copper salts seem able to interact with the >C?N? NH? C₆H₅ moiety, yielding adducts which, in some cases, are prone to both isomerize and rearrange. Therefore, a similar behaviour in some manner parallel to that already observed in benzene in the presence of aliphatic amines (base‐catalysis) has been evidenced. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Raman spectroscopic investigation of a new self‐assembly monolayer material 4‐[N‐phenyl‐N‐(3‐methylphenyl)‐amino]‐benzoic acid for organic light‐emitting devices

We have synthesized 4‐[N‐phenyl‐N‐(3‐methylphenyl)‐amino]‐benzoic acid (4‐[PBA]) and investigated its molecular vibrations by infrared and Raman spectroscopies as well as by calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) approach. The Fourier transform (FT) Raman, dispersive Raman and FT‐IR spectra of 4‐[PBA] were recorded in the solid phase. We analyzed the optimized geometric structure and energies of 4‐[PBA] in the ground state. Stability of the molecule arising from hyperconjugative interactions and charge delocalization was studied using natural bond orbital analysis. The results show that change in electron density in the σ* and π* antibonding orbitals and E₂ energies confirm the occurrence of intramolecular charge transfer within the molecule. Theoretical calculations were performed at the DFT level using the Gaussian 09 program. Selected experimental bands were assigned and characterized on the basis of the scaled theoretical wavenumbers by their total energy distribution. The good agreement between the experimental and theoretical spectra allowed positive assignment of the observed vibrational absorption bands. Finally, the calculation results were applied to simulate the Raman and IR spectra of the title compound, which show agreement with the observed spectra. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rotational disorder in 2‐piperidyl‐5‐nitro‐6 ‐methylpyridine: structural phase transition and its vibrational characteristics

X‐ray diffraction (XRD) studies have shown that 2‐piperidyl‐5‐nitro‐6‐methylpyridine, C₁₁H₁₅N₃O₂, undergoes a structural phase transition at T = 240 K. The room temperature structure is tetragonal, space group I4₁/a, with the unit‐cell dimensions a = 13.993(2) and c = 23.585(5) Å. The pyridine ring takes trans conformation with respect to the piperidine unit. While pyridine is well ordered, the piperidine moiety shows apparent disorder resulting from a libration about the linking N C bond. The low‐temperature phase is monoclinic, space group I2/a. Contraction of the unit‐cell volume by 2.3% at 170 K enables the C H···O linkage between the molecules of the neighbouring stacks. As result, the asymmetric unit becomes bi‐molecular. The thermal librations of the piperidine and methyl groups become considerably reduced at 170 K and nearly fully reduced at about 100 K. The IR spectra and polarised Raman spectra agree with the X‐ray structure and confirm the disorder effect on the piperidine ring. The assignment of the bands observed was made on the basis of DFT chemical quantum calculations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Resonance Raman intensity analysisof the excited‐state photochemical dynamicsof dimethyl 1,3‐dithiole‐2‐thione‐4,5‐dicarboxylate in the A‐band absorption

Dimethyl 1,3‐dithiole‐2‐thione‐4,5‐dicarboxylate (DDTD) was synthesized and characterized using NMR, Fourier transform (FT)‐Raman, Fourier transform‐infrared (FT‐IR) and UV spectroscopies. Resonance Raman spectra (RRs) were obtained with 341.5, 354.7 and 368.9 nm excitation wavelengths and density functional calculations were carried out to elucidate the π (S C S) →π* (S C S) electronic transitions and the RRs of DDTD in cyclohexane solution. The RRs indicate that the Franck–Condon region photo dynamics have a multidimensional character with motion predominantly along the CS stretch and the C S symmetric stretch modes in the five‐member heterocycle. A preliminary resonance Raman intensity analysis was carried out and the results for DDTD were compared with previously reported results for 1,3‐dithiole‐2‐thione (DTT). Differences and similarities of the spectra in terms of molecular symmetry and electron density are also discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

4‐Alkyl‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1,4,2,6‐oxaazadisilinanes: synthesis,structure, and conformational analysis

4‐Alkyl‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1,4,2,6‐oxaazadisilinanes RN[CH₂Si(Me)₂]₂O [R = Me ( 1 ), i‐Pr ( 2 )] were synthesized by two methods which provided good yields up to 84%. Low temperature NMR study of compounds ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) revealed a frozen ring inversion with the energy barriers of 8.5 and 7.7 kcal/mol at 163 and 143 K, respectively, which is substantially lower than that for their carbon analog, N‐methylmorpholine. DFT calculations performed on the example of molecule ( 1 ) showed that N? Me_ax conformer to exist in the sofa conformation with the coplanar fragment C? Si? O? Si? C, and its N? Me_eq conformer in a flattened chair conformation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical investigations on 4,4′,5,5′‐tetranitro‐2,2′‐1H,1′H‐2,2′‐biimidazole derivatives as potential nitrogen‐rich high energy materials

The ―NH₂, ―NO₂, ―NHNO₂, ―C(NO₂)₃ and ―CF(NO₂)₂ substitution derivatives of 4,4′,5,5′‐tetranitro‐2,2′‐1H,1′H‐2,2′‐biimidazole were studied at B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVDZ level of density functional theory. The crystal structures were obtained by molecular mechanics (MM) methods. Detonation properties were evaluated using Kamlet–Jacobs equations based on the calculated density and heat of formation. The thermal stability of the title compounds was investigated via the energy gaps (?E_{LUMO ? HOMO}) predicted. Results show that molecules T5 (D = 10.85 km·s^?1, P = 57.94 GPa) and T6 (D = 9.22 km·s^?1, P = 39.21 GPa) with zero or positive oxygen balance are excellent candidates for high energy density oxidizers (HEDOs). All of them appear to be potential explosives compared with the famous ones, octahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetraazocane (HMX, D = 8.96 km·s^?1, P = 35.96 GPa) and hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL‐20, D = 9.38 km·s^?1, P = 42.00 GPa). In addition, bond dissociation energy calculation indicates that T5 and T6 are also the most thermally stable ones among the title compounds. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemical and photochemical reactivity of 6‐hydroxymethyl‐7,8‐dihydropterin in aqueous solutions

6‐Hydroxymethyl‐7,8‐dihydropterin (H₂Hmp) is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of folate, a precursor of coenzymes involved in the metabolism of nucleotides and amino acids. In this work, we have investigated the reactions undergone by H₂Hmp in aqueous solutions at physiological pH, in the absence and in the presence of UV‐A radiation (320–400 nm). In air‐equilibrated solutions, H₂Hmp undergoes slow thermal oxidation (half‐life 37 h) to yield 7,8‐dihydroxanthopterin (H₂Xap) as the main product. The reaction of H₂Hmp with hydrogen peroxide also yields H₂Xap as a main product. In contrast, UV‐A excitation of H₂Hmp leads to the formation of a dimer identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The corresponding quantum yield of H₂Hmp consumption (Φ_?R) was independent of O₂ and reactant concentration and has a value of 0.10 (±0.02), more than twice higher than that measured for other 6‐subtituted 7,8‐dihydropterins. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

FT‐IR,FT‐Raman,SERS spectra and computational calculations of 4‐ethyl‐N‐(2′‐hydroxy‐5′‐nitrophenyl)benzamide

Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) and FT‐Raman spectra of 4‐ethyl‐N‐(2′‐hydroxy‐5′‐nitrophenyl)benzamide were recorded and analyzed. A surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum was recorded in silver colloid. The vibrational wavenumbers and corresponding vibrational assignments were examined theoretically using the Gaussian03 set of quantum chemistry codes. The red shift of the NH stretching wavenumber in the infrared spectrum from the computational wavenumber indicates the weakening of the NH bond resulting in proton transfer to the neighboring oxygen atom. The simultaneous IR and Raman activation of the CO stretching mode gives the charge transfer interaction through a π‐conjugated path. The presence of methyl modes in the SERS spectrum indicates the nearness of the methyl group to the metal surface, which affects the orientation and metal molecule interaction. The first hyperpolarizability and predicted infrared intensities are reported. The calculated first hyperpolarizability is comparable with the reported values of similar derivatives and is an attractive subject for future studies of nonlinear optics. Optimized geometrical parameters of the title compound are in agreement with reported structures. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.