QTAIM charge density study of natural cinnamic acids

B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p) 6d ionization potentials and O–H bond dissociation energies of natural cinnamic acids are consistent with an important antioxidant activity. The QTAIM analysis indicates that: (i) the benzene ring and the propenoic acid fragment of cinnamic acids behave as independent π systems; (ii) the ionization process consists in a loss of nearly 1 a.u. of π electron density by the atoms involved in HOMO accompanied by a reorganization of σ electron density that is mostly provided by the remaining atoms.