In order to understand the nature of the interactions of biologically important ligands, it is necessary to carry out the physico‐chemical studies of these compounds with their biological targets (e.g., receptors in the cell or important cell components). Results of this study make it possible to predict some properties of a molecule, such as its reactivity, durability of complex compounds, and kinship to enzymes. In this paper the effect of alkali metal cations (Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs) on the electronic structure of m‐methoxybenzoic acid (m‐anisic acid) was studied. The experimental IR (in solid state and solution), Raman, UV (in solid state and solution), 1H, and 13C NMR spectra of m‐methoxybenzoic acid, and its salts were registered, assigned, and analyzed. Some of the obtained results were compared with published data for o‐anisic acid and o‐anisates. The structures of anisic acid and Li, Na, and K m‐anisates were optimized at the B3LYP/6‐311++G** level. The IR, 1H, and 13C NMR spectra and NPA, ChelpG, and MK atomic charges were calculated. The change of metal along with the series: Li → Na → K → Rb → Cs caused: (1) the change in the electronic charge distribution in anisate anion that is seen via the occurrence of the systematic shifts of several bands in the experimental and theoretical IR and Raman spectra of anisates; (2) systematic 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts; (3) hypsochromic shifts in UV spectra of salts as compared to ligands. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.