Conformations, vibrational spectra and force field of 1-methyl-2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole: experimental data and density functional theory investigation in comparison with 2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole

The molecular structure, conformational equilibria, vibrational spectra and molecular force field of 1-methyl-2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole have been determined at the HF, MP2 and DFT/(B3LYP, BVP86) levels with 6-31+G(d,p) and TZVP basis sets. The torsional potentials for the rotation around the C1–C2 pivotal bond have been calculated at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) and BVP86/TZVP levels of theory for gaseous and aqueous 1-methyl-2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole. FT-Raman (3500–10 cm−1) and FT-IR (3900–400 cm−1) spectra of solid 1-methyl-2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole have been recorded and interpreted on a base of calculated potential energy distribution. The results of the experimental and theoretical study of vibrational spectra and molecular structure of 1-methyl 2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole are considered in comparison with similar data for 2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole.