Electron distribution in 3,4-dimethylanisole molecule according to quantum-chemical calculations

Calculations of two forms of 3,4-dimethylanisole molecule with full geometry optimization are performed by AM1, RHF/6-31G(d), and MP2/6-31G(d) methods. The form with cis location of H₃C-O and C¹–C⁶ bonds is somewhat more preferable energetically than that with the trans location. By the RHF/6-31G(d) method, this molecule is also calculated with fixed rotation angles of methoxy group around the C-O bond. It is shown that, in the first form, the negative charge on the C⁶ atom is considerably smaller than on C², while in the second form the charges are practically equal, which does not confirm the concerted effects of steric and electronic factors in reactions of 3,4-dimethylanisole with methyl isocyanate and isobutyraldehyde. The charge difference is due to the effect of methyl group in the 3-position of the aromatic ring and to the orientation of the methoxy group toward geminal C-C bonds of the ring.