Ab initio calculations on 4-substituted benzoic acids; a further theoretical investigation into the nature of substituent effects in aromatic derivatives

Abstract

Ab initio (STO-3G) molecular orbital calculations for 4-substituted benzoic acids and XCH3–HCO2H pairs are used to derive a theoretical field, TF and resonance, TR(BA), substituent scale. Comparison with previous calculations for 4-substituted styrenes shows that a common field scale can be used for different systems but that different resonance scales are necessary, depending upon the electronic nature of the probe group. The field effect primarily reflects the direct electrostatic interaction between the substituent and the carboxylic acid. However, there are also significant contributions due to field-induced polarization of the intervening phenyl π electron system. By contrast, the π polarization effect seems to be the dominant field effect in the case of non-interacting probes (such as carbon atomic charges or chemical shifts). A very close parallel is noted between substituent effects upon atomic charges and acid dissociation energies.