ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 42, Number 4
JKCSEZ 42(4)
August 20, 1998 

The geometry of furan, relevant to the binding of bis-furan lexitropsin that contains this ring to the base pair of minor groove of DNA, is optimized by semiempirical (MNDO) and ab initio (Hartree-Fock) methods. The proton affinity and electronic structure are evaluated at the 6-31G and 6-31G* level of theory for the optimized geometry. The proton affinities are also studied for various substituted furans with the electrondonating and -withdrawing groups to estimate the substituent effect on the proton affinity of furans. It has been found that the electron-donating substituents increase the proton affinity of furan, whereas the electron-withdrawing substituents decrease it. This result can be explained with atomic charge and electron density at oxygen of substituted furans.