Structure and Spectroscopy of Furan:H₂O Complexes

An analysis of the 1:1 complex of furan and water is presented. In this study, computation and matrix isolation FTIR were used to determine stable complexes of furan:water. Density functional theory and Møller-Plesset second-order, perturbation theory calculations found four, unique geometries for the complex. Two complexes were characterized by C-H···O interactions, one complex was characterized by O-H···O, and the fourth complex was characterized by O-H···π. Optimizations completed using B3LYP, B3LYP-GD3BJ, M05-2X, and MP2 showed the most stable species to be bound by O-H···O interactions. Matrix isolation experiments of mixtures of furan and water held in nitrogen at 15 K showed evidence of stable complexes when probed by FTIR. These signatures grew in intensity when matrices were annealed at 30 K. These vibrational features were predominately associated with perturbation of the water monomer. Additionally, the spectra of complexes containing water isotopologues were recorded. Analysis of spectral features pointed to the presence of a single geometry formed in the matrix, which is best described as a 1:1 complex stabilized by a O-H···O interaction.