Synthesis, spectroscopic investigation, molecular docking and DFT studies of novel (2Z,4Z)-2,4-bis(4-chlorobenzylidene)-5-oxo-1-phenylpyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid (BCOPCA)

The synthesized compound (2Z,4Z)-2,4-bis(4-chlorobenzylidene)-5-oxo-1-phenylpyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid (BCOPCA) was characterised by Ultraviolet, FT-Infra Red, (1)H, (13)C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and mass spectroscopy. The compound was further subjected to quantum chemical calculations at the level of density functional theory (DFT) using 6-31G (d,p) basis sets method with B3LYP and CAM-B3LYP hybrid functionals. The intramolecular interactions, polarizability, hyperpolarizability and nonlinear optical properties of the title compound were also incorporated in the study. The total first static hyperpolarizability (β(0) = 19.477 × 10(−30) and 16.924 × 10(−30) esu) value was also computed and indicated the title molecule as an interesting forthcoming NLO material. The other thermodynamic properties (entropy, heat capacity and zero vibrational energy) were also discussed. The study also includes NBO computations, complete vibrational assignments, Mulliken charges, UV–Visible spectral analysis and HOMO–LUMO energies. The regions of low and high electron density were obtained from MESP and ESP maps. The calculated parameters for BCOPCA using aforementioned functions are harmonious with the experimental findings. The in-vitro antimicrobial activity and molecular docking studies of BCOPCA were also done and showed a good correlation.