Unimolecular processes in CH2OH below the dissociation barrier: O-H stretch overtone excitation and dissociation

Jie Wei1, Boris Karpichev, Hanna Reisler

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0482, USA.

Related Concept Videos

IR Spectrum Peak Broadening: Hydrogen Bonding01:23

IR Spectrum Peak Broadening: Hydrogen Bonding

The vibrational frequency of a bond is directly proportional to its bond strength. As a result, stronger bonds vibrate at higher frequencies, while weaker bonds vibrate at lower frequencies. The stretching vibration of the strong O–H bond in alcohols and phenols (very dilute solution or gas phase) appears as a sharp peak at 3600–3650 cm−1.
However, the extent of hydrogen bonding influences the observed stretching frequency and band broadening. Intermolecular or intramolecular hydrogen bonding...
IR Spectroscopy: Molecular Vibration Overview01:24

IR Spectroscopy: Molecular Vibration Overview

When Infrared (IR) radiation passes through a covalently bonded molecule, the bonds transition from lower to higher vibrational levels. The fundamental vibrational motions that result in infrared absorption can be classified as stretching or bending vibrations.
Stretching vibrations are vibrational motions that occur along the bond line, changing the bond length or distance between two bonded atoms. They are further distinguished as symmetric or asymmetric. In symmetric stretching, the...
IR Frequency Region: X–H Stretching01:24

IR Frequency Region: X–H Stretching

In IR spectroscopy, signals produced by the X−H bonds (such as C−H, O−H, or N−H) can be observed in the frequency range of  2700–4000 cm–1. The C−H stretching vibration forms sharp bands in the region 2850–3000 cm–1. The presence of the O−H stretching vibration leads to the forming of an absorption band in the frequency range 3650–3200 cm−1. At the same time, N−H stretching can be confirmed by absorption bands in the 3500–3100 cm−1 range. Even though both O−H and N−H bonds vibrate at a similar...
Mass Spectrometry: Alcohol Fragmentation01:03

Mass Spectrometry: Alcohol Fragmentation

Alcohols (R-OH) ionize to lose one non-bonded electron from the oxygen atom, forming molecular ions. Due to their tendency to fragment rapidly, the intensity of the molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum is weak or sometimes absent. The fragmentation patterns for alcohols occur in two ways, i.e. ⍺-cleavage and dehydration. During ⍺-cleavage, the bond at the ⍺-position adjacent to the hydroxyl group cleaves to give a resonance-stabilized cation and a radical. However, intramolecular dehydration...
IR Frequency Region: Alkene and Carbonyl Stretching01:29

IR Frequency Region: Alkene and Carbonyl Stretching

Double bonds in alkenes and carbonyl compounds exhibit stretching frequencies in the diagnostic region of the IR spectrum. In addition, alkenes exhibit vinylic C–H stretching and C–H out-of-plane bending absorptions that are useful for identifying substitution patterns.
Stretching frequencies are affected by several factors, such as resonance, inductive effects, ring strain, dipole moment, and hydrogen bonding. Consequently, the stretching frequency of the carbonyl double bond varies in...
IR and UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Aldehydes and Ketones01:29

IR and UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Aldehydes and Ketones

Infrared spectroscopy, also known as vibrational spectroscopy, is mainly used to determine the types of bonds and functional groups in molecules. In aldehydes and ketones, the carbonyl (C=O) bond shows an absorption around 1710 cm-1. The C=O bond vibration of an aldehyde occurs at lower frequencies than that of a ketone. In addition to the C=O absorption in an aldehyde, the aldehydic C–H bond also gives two peaks in the 2700–2800 cm-1 range. This absorption, coupled with the C=O stretching, is...