title: Density functional theory study of the conformational space of phenyl benzoate, a common fragment in many mesogenic molecules.
abstract: The complete conformational space of phenyl benzoate (three coupled rotors) has been studied by B3LYP density functional theory (DFT) at the 6-31+G* basis set level. The overall quality of the DFT results has been checked via Möller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2) calculations performed on a few significant molecular geometries. Contrary to the general belief, we have found that rotation around the C(=O)-O bond is not more restricted than rotation around the C(=O)-C bond. We have commented on the location and magnitude of the molecular dipole moment and their dependence on conformation. The energy data have been fitted through an expression containing a Fourier expansion plus a Lennard-Jones term, suitable to be used in computer simulations or to assist analysis of experimental data.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Pisa, Via Risorgimento 35, I-56126 Pisa, Italy. g.cinacchi@sns.it
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cinacchi
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prampolini