Interaction of TNT with Dopamine - A DFT Treatment

Abstract

2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, known as TNT is a widely used high explosive material. Its disastrous effects to health are reported but how it executes those effects biochemically has been scarcely studied. On the other hand, dopamine is an important endogenous catecholamine. The present study deals with interaction of TNT and dopamine within the restrictions of density functional theory at the level of B3LYP/6-31+G(d). Some structural, quantum chemical and spectral properties are obtained for TNT + dopamine composite. They may form two electronically stable p-p complex, TNT acting as p‑acceptor and dopamine is the donor. Thermo chemical calculations indicate that formation of the complexes are unfavorable at the standard conditions but the endo-form of the complex is less unfavorable compared to the exo-form.