Infra-red cryogenic studies. Part 5.—Ethanol and ethanol-d argon matrices

Abstract

Infra-red spectra between 4000 and 40 cm–1 are reported for EtOH and EtOD suspended in argon matrices at 20 K. The small bandwidths in the low-temperature matrix reveal the presence of bands due to both trans and gauche conformers, and a complete vibrational assignment for the more stable trans conformer is made. The ratio of trans to gauche conformers in the vapour phase at room temperature is estimated to be 2 : 1. Concentration studies result in the identification of open chain dimer, trimer and tetramer, and cyclic tetramer, species from their OH stretching vibrations. The effect of association on other regions of the spectrum is examined.