Structural, Spectral, Pharmacokinetics Analysis (in-Silico), Drug-Likeness, NCI Analysis (ELF, LOL, IRI & DORI) & Molecular Docking Computations of 2-Hydroxy 2-Phenyl Acetophenone a DFT Approaches

Abstract

This article describes a comprehensive study of the structure and spectroscopy of 2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetophenone (benzoin) using density functional theory (DFT) with Gaussian 09 software. Geometrical parameters were calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G (d, p) and 6-311++G (d, p) levels and compared to the literature values. An FTIR and FT-Raman spectroscopy was employed to identify vibrational modes and functional groups. Spectra were obtained in the range of 4000–400 cm⁻¹ (FTIR) and 4000–50 cm⁻¹ (Raman) and compared with theoretical predictions. The optical properties of FMOs are intrinsically linked to their respective energy levels. Consequently, the ΔE Homo-Lumo (ΔE) values were analyzed after the FMO orbitals were meticulously mapped out, and molecular electrostatic potential surfaces indicated regions prone to electrophilic attack, notably O13 and O16. UV spectra were simulated using TD-DFT and CPCM models in various solvents. NBO analysis revealed a stabilization energy of 37.67 kcal/mol, mainly attributed to the donor BD (1) C12-C14 to acceptor BD*(1) (C12-O13) contacts, with an occupancy of 1.93337. Topological indicators (ELF, LOL, RDG, IRI, and DORI) revealed intramolecular and intermolecular connections. The molecule shows potential pharmacological properties, adhering to Lipinski's rule of five, with the lowest binding energy of −6.91 kcal/mol for the 4PES protein. The stability of the target protein was confirmed by the Ramachandran plot.