Synthesis, structure elucidation, Hirshfeld surface analysis, energy frameworks and DFT studies of novel ethyl 2-(5-methyl-2-oxopyridin-N-yl)acetate (OPA)

•Structural investigation of pyridine derivative using X-ray diffraction method.•Intermolecular interactions are validated by Hirshfeld surface analysis.•FMO's were studied in different phases to investigate the charge transfer in OPA.•Reactive sites are shown using MEP map.•Nature of noncovalent interactions were characterized by RDG, ELF, and LOL analysis. The compound ethyl 2-(5-methyl-2-oxopyridin-N-yl)acetate (OPA) has been synthesized and characterized by 1H, 13C NMR and mass spectra. The molecular structure was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The compound crystallizes in triclinic crystal system with asymmetric unit Z = 2. The structure exhibits CH⋯O type of intermolecular interaction. The compound is stabilized by CH⋯π and π - π interaction. The intermolecular interactions present in the molecule are validated by Hirshfeld surface analysis and the percentage contribution from individual atoms are calculated by 2D fingerprint plots. The interaction energies are visualized through energy frameworks which show dispersion energy is predominant. The Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were done in gaseous, aqueous, and solvent (acetone) phase. The energy gap between the molecular orbitals HOMO and LUMO in different phases is 4.573, 4.677, 4.673 eV respectively. The charge distribution in the molecule is visualized using molecular electrostatic potential map. The noncovalent interactions present in the molecule are revealed by reduced density gradient analysis. [Display omitted]