Molecular interactions and crystal packing in nematogen: Computational thermodynamic approach

A computational thermodynamic approach of molecular interactions in a nematogen p-n-alkyl benzoic acid (nBAC) molecule with an alkyl group butyl (4BAC) has been carried out with respect to translational and orientational motion. The atomic net charge and dipole moment at each atomic center were evaluated using the complete neglect differential overlap (CNDO/2) method. The modified Rayleigh-Schrödinger perturbation theory along with multicentered-multipole expansion method were employed to evaluate long-range intermolecular interactions, while a 6-exp potential function was assumed for short-range interactions. Various possible geometrical arrangements of molecular pairs with regard to different energy components were considered, and the energetically favorable configuration was found to understand the crystal packing picture. Furthermore, these interaction energy values are taken as input to calculate the configurational entropy at room temperature (300 K), nematic-isotropic transition temperature (386 K) and above transition temperature (450 K) during different modes of interactions. An attempt has been made to describe interactions in a nematogen at molecular level, through which one can simplify the system to make the model computationally feasible in understanding the delicate interplay between energy and entropy, that accounts for mesomorphism and there by to analyze the molecular structure of a nematogen.