Conformational and quantum analysis of dental adhesive carboxylic acid and carboxylic acid anhydride monomers.

The conformational and quantum analyses of dental adhesive carboxylic acid and carboxylic acid anhydride monomers were preformed. Conformational analyses were carried out by a molecular mechanics calculation. 4-META and 4-AETA showed more compact conformation than 4-MET. Quantum analyses were performed by semi-empirical molecular orbital calculation. 4-MET had a higher dipole moment, polarizability, and HOMO and LUMO energy than 4-META and 4-AETA. The bond lengths and bond orders of the carbonyl groups of the trimellitic acid moiety of 4-MET were different from those of carbonyl groups of the trimellitate anhydride moieties of 4-META and 4-AETA. Oxygen of the methacryloyl or acryloyl groups showed the highest electron densities among the oxygen atoms for all monomers. The superdelocalizabilities of oxygen atoms of the trimellitic acid moiety of 4-MET were greater than that of oxygen of the methacryloyl group. A small change in the bond length of the Ca-O bond showed a large difference in the steric energies of 4-MET/Ca salt.