Vibrational analysis and spectra of orotic acid

The IR and Raman spectra of polycrystalline anhydrous orotic acid and its N1, N3, and O12 trideuterated isotopomer are recorded in the 4000-40 cm(-1) spectral interval as part of a series of vibrational analyses of nucleosides, nucleotides, and related compounds carried out in our laboratory. The frequencies of the fundamental transitions and the potential energy distributions of the 39 normal modes of orotic acid and its isotopomer are calculated by an ab initio density functional theory Becke3P86/6-311G** treatment. Assignments of the vibrational modes are proposed that consider the results of these calculations and the observed spectra. The results of the ab initio treatment are related to crystallographic and spectral data, and they are compared with previous assignments for similar molecules.