Vibrational and electronic spectroscopic studies of melatonin

We report the infrared absorption and Raman spectra of melatonin recorded with 488 and 632.8 nm excitations in 3600-2700 and 1700-70 cm(-1) regions. Further, we optimized molecular structure of the three conformers of melatonin within density functional theory calculations. Vibrational frequencies of all three conformers have also been calculated. Observed vibrational bands have been assigned to different vibrational motions of the molecules on the basis of potential energy distribution calculations and calculated vibrational frequencies. Observed band positions match well with the calculated values after scaling except NH stretching mode frequencies. It is found that the observed and calculated frequencies mismatch of NH stretching is due to intermolecular interactions between melatonin molecules.