Structural and vibrational study of the Ci(1) conformation of 18-crown-6

Optimized geometry, vibrational frequencies and IR absorption intensities were calculated for the Ci(1) conformation of 18c6. Optimized geometry was compared with the experimental geometry and that of the Ci(2) conformation of 18c6. The Ci(1) conformation is more planer than the Ci(2) conformation of 18c6, which provides an explanation that free 18c6 in the crystal phase has a Ci(1) conformation. Vibrational frequencies were scaled using an unvaried one-scale-factor scaling of 0.928. Calculated vibrational frequencies were compared with the experimental vibrational frequencies. The root-mean-square deviation of the difference between the calculated and experimental frequencies was only 15 cm(-1). This excellent agreement between the calculated and experimental frequencies is an indication of the proper assignment of the fundamental vibrational frequencies of the Ci(1) conformation of 18c6.