Exploring crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface and quantum mechanical attributes of symmetric thiophene Schiff base

A novel compound (1E,1′E)-N,N′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis(1-(5-nitrothiophen-2-yl)methanimine) [EDNM] was synthesized from thiophene derivative in view to get multidentate ligand with potential biological activity. EDNM is characterized by FT-IR, 1 H and 13 C NMR and UV–Vis spectroscopic techniques and confirmed by SCXRD. EDNM crystallizes in the monoclinic system with P2 1 / c space group with Z value 4 and unit cell parameters a = 5.6540(3) Å, b = 17.9249(8) Å and c = 7.5077(5) Å. DFT was employed for theoretical evaluations using B3LYP with the basis set 6–311 + + G (d,p). Geometry optimization, vibrational analysis, NMR, electronic absorption, MEP, FMO, Mulliken charges and NBO analysis were performed, thereby establishing the nature of reactive sites, band energy gap and atomic charges of EDNM. Theoretical values matched well with the experimental findings. NBO analysis revealed the donor acceptor interactions in molecule. Analysis of global reactivity descriptors along with Fukui indices outlines the elaborate scheme of reactive sites of the molecule, and Hirshfeld surface investigation revealed the intermolecular interactions in crystal packing.