Proton Transfer Dynamics in Crystalline Maleic Acid from Molecular Dynamics Calculations

The crystal structure of maleic acid, the cis conformer of HOOC-CH═CH-COOH has been investigated by Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) and path integral molecular dynamics (PIMD) simulations. The interesting feature of this compound, compared to the trans conformer, fumaric acid, is that both intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds are present. CPMD simulations at 100 K indicate that the energy barrier height for proton transfer is too high for thermal jumps over the barrier in both the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Dynamics at 295 K reveal that the occupancy ratio of the proton distribution in both the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds is 0.96/0.04. The time lag between the proton transfers in the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds is in the range of 2-9 fs. This is slightly shorter than the time lag obtained previously for fumaric acid, where only intermolecular hydrogen bonds are present. It is also interesting to notice that in most cases the proton transfer process starts in the intramolecular hydrogen bond and subsequently follows in the intermolecular hydrogen bond. Vibrational spectra of the investigated system and its deuterated analogs HOOC-CH═CH-COOD and DOOC-CH═CH-COOD have been calculated and compared with experimental data.