FT-IR, FT-Raman, NMR and UV–vis spectra, vibrational assignments and DFT calculations of 4-butyl benzoic acid

The solid phase FTIR and FT-Raman spectra of 4-butyl benzoic acid (4-BBA) have been recorded in the regions 400-4000 and 50-4000cm(-1), respectively. The spectra were interpreted in terms of fundamentals modes, combination and overtone bands. The structure of the molecule was optimized and the structural characteristics were determined by density functional theory (DFT) using B3LYP method with 6-311++G(d,p) as basis set. The vibrational frequencies were calculated for monomer and dimer by DFT method and were compared with the experimental frequencies, which yield good agreement between observed and calculated frequencies. The infrared and Raman spectra were also predicted from the calculated intensities. (13)C and (1)H NMR spectra were recorded and (13)C and (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shifts of the molecule were calculated using the gauge independent atomic orbital (GIAO) method. UV-visible spectrum of the compound was recorded in the region 200-400nm and the electronic properties HOMO and LUMO energies were measured by time-dependent TD-DFT approach. The geometric parameters, energies, harmonic vibrational frequencies, IR intensities, Raman intensities, chemical shifts and absorption wavelengths were compared with the available experimental data of the molecule.