DFT-based molecular modeling and vibrational study of the La(III) complex of 3,3′-(benzylidene)bis(4-hydroxycoumarin)

Molecular modeling of the La(III) complex of 3,3'-(benzylidene)bis(4-hydroxycoumarin) (PhDC) was performed using density functional theory (DFT) methods at B3LYP/6-31G(d) and BP86/TZP levels. Both Stuttgart-Dresden effective core potential and ZORA approximation were applied to the La(III) center. The electron density distribution and the nucleophilic centers of the deprotonated ligand PhDC2- in a solvent environment were estimated on the basis of Hirshfeld atomic charges, electrostatic potential values at the nuclei, and Nalewajski-Mrozek bond orders. In accordance with the empirical formula La(PhDC)(OH)(H2O), a chain structure of the complex was simulated by means of two types of molecular fragment: (1) two La(III) cations bound to one PhDC2- ligand, and (2) two PhDC2- ligands bound to one La(III) cation. Different orientations of PhDC2-, OH- and H2O ligands in the La(III) complexes were investigated using 20 possible [La(PhDC2-)(2)(OH)(H2O)](2-) fragments. Energy calculations predicted that the prism-like structure based on "tail-head" cis-LML2 type binding and stabilized via HO...HOH intramolecular hydrogen bonds is the most probable structure for the La(III) complex. The calculated vibrational spectrum of the lowest energy La(III) model fragment is in very good agreement with the experimental IR spectrum of the complex, supporting the suggested ligand binding mode to La(III) in a chain structure, namely, every PhDC2- interacts with two La(III) cations through both carbonylic and both hydroxylic oxygens, and every La(III) cation binds four oxygen atoms of two different PhDC2-.