Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 1, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Light-Driven Chemical Reactions and Energy-Harnessing Devices in Photochemical Research
Published on: February 16, 2024
Ultrafast vibrational dynamics of aqueous acetate and terephthalate
Alexander A Korotkevich1, Huib J Bakker1
1AMOLF, Science Park 104, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
We study the vibrational population relaxation and mutual interaction of the symmetric stretch (νs) and antisymmetric stretch (νas) vibrations of the carboxylate anion groups of acetate and terephthalate ions in aqueous solution by femtosecond two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy. By selectively exciting and probing the νs and νas vibrations, we find that the interaction of the two vibrations involves both the anharmonic coupling of the vibrations and energy exchange between the excited states of the vibrations. We find that both the vibrational population relaxation and the energy exchange are faster for terephthalate than for acetate.
Related Concept Videos
IR and UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Aldehydes and Ketones
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Acid-Catalyzed Hydration
IR and UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Carboxylic Acids
However, the stretching absorptions for the C=O bond vary depending on the structure of carboxylic acids. The C=O bond of the free carboxylic acids shows a higher stretching frequency, 1760 cm−1, while H-bonded carboxylic acids (dimers) exhibit stretching absorptions at a lower frequency,...
Acid Halides to Esters: Alcoholysis
Alkylation of β-Ketoester Enolates: Acetoacetic Ester Synthesis
Acetals and Thioacetals as Protecting Groups for Aldehydes and Ketones
In the presence of multiple functional groups, when selective reduction of one group over the other is desired, groups like aldehydes and ketones that form acetals...

