Conformational and thermodynamic properties of gaseous levulinic acid.

Molecular modeling is used to determine low-energy conformational structures and thermodynamic properties of levulinic acid in the gas phase. Structure and IR vibrational frequencies are obtained using density functional and Møller-Plesset perturbation theories. Electronic energies are computed using G3//B3LYP and CBS-QB3 model chemistries. Computed anharmonic frequencies are consistent with reported experimental data. Population analysis shows a boat- and a chainlike structure to be most abundant at 298 K, with increasing proportions of two other conformers at higher temperatures. Population mean distribution values for thermodynamic quantities are derived. At 298 K and 1 atm, the enthalpy of formation, entropy, and heat capacity are -613.1 ± 1.0 kJ·mol(-1), 407.4 J·mol(-1)·K(-1), and 132.3 J·mol(-1)·K(-1), respectively.