Fermi Resonance Interaction Research Articles

Spectral Signatures of Protonated Noble Gas Clusters of Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe: From Monomers to Trimers.

The structures and spectral features of protonated noble gas clusters are examined using a first principles approach. Protonated noble gas monomers (NgH+) and dimers (NgH+Ng) have a linear structure, while the protonated noble gas trimers (Ng3H+) can have a T-shaped or linear structure. Successive binding energies for these complexes are calculated at the CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory. Anharmonic simulations for the dimers and trimers unveil interesting spectral features. The symmetric NgH+Ng are charactized by a set of progression bands, which involves one quantum of the asymmetric Ng-H+ stretch with multiple quanta of the symmetric Ng-H+ stretch. Such a spectral signature is very robust and is predicted to be observed in both T-shaped and linear isomers of Ng3H+. Meanwhile, for selected asymmetric NgH+Ng’, a Fermi resonance interaction involving the first overtone of the proton bend with the proton stretch is predicted to occur in ArH+Kr and XeH+Kr.

Vibrational Dynamics of the Intramolecular H-Bond in Acetylacetone Investigated with Transient and 2D IR Spectroscopy.

Acetylacetone (AcAc) has proven to be a fruitful but highly challenging model system for the experimental and computational interrogation of strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Key questions remain, however, regarding the identity of the minimum-energy structure of AcAc and the dynamics of intramolecular proton transfer. Here, we investigate the OH/OD stretch and bend regions of the enol tautomer of AcAc and its deuterated isotopologue with transient absorption and 2D IR spectroscopy. The OH bend region reveals a single dominant diagonal transition near 1625 cm-1 with intense cross peaks to lower-frequency modes, demonstrating highly mixed fingerprint transitions that contain OH bend character. The anharmonic coupling of the OH bend results in a highly elongated OH bend excited-state absorption transition that indicates a large manifold of OH bend overtone/combination bands in the OH stretch region that leads to strong bend-stretch Fermi resonance interactions. The OH and OD stretch regions consist of broad ground-state bleach signals, but there is no clear evidence of ω21 excited-state absorptions due to rapid population relaxation arising from strong intramolecular coupling to bending, fingerprint, and low-frequency H-bond modes. Orientational relaxation dynamics persist for timescales longer than the vibrational lifetimes, with polarization anisotropy components decaying within approximately 2 and 10 periods of the O-O oscillation for the OH and OD stretch, respectively. The significant isotopic dependence of the orientational dynamics is discussed in the context of intramolecular mode coupling, diffusional processes, and contributions from proton/deuteron transfer dynamics.

Structural and vibrational characterization of HCO+ and Rg-HCO+, Rg = {He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe}.

The structures of the formyl ion (HCO+) and its rare gas tagged counterparts (Rg-HCO+, Rg = He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) were studied at the coupled-cluster singles, doubles, and perturbative triples [CCSD(T)]/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory and basis set. A linear structure for these tagged complexes was predicted. The Rg binding energies for Rg-HCO+ are also examined at the CCSD(T) level. It was found that the binding interaction increases from He-HCO+ to Xe-HCO+. A multilevel potential energy surface built at the CCSD(T) and second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation levels of theory were used to study these species' vibrational spectra. By changing the Rg in the first-solvation shell for HCO+, the Fermi resonance interaction between the first H+ bend overtone and the asymmetric and symmetric H-C-O stretches can be modulated. This Fermi resonance modulation is demonstrated by examining a series of rare gas solvated HCO+.

Fermi resonance switching in KrH+Rg and XeH+Rg (Rg = Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe).

Matrix isolation experiments have been successfully employed to extensively study the infrared spectrum of several proton-bound rare gas complexes. Most of these studies have focused on the spectral signature for the H+ stretch (ν3) and its combination bands with the intermolecular stretch coordinate (ν1). However, little attention has been paid to the Fermi resonance interaction between the H+ stretch (ν3) and H+ bend overtone (2ν2) in the asymmetric proton-bound rare gas dimers, RgH+Rg'. In this work, we have investigated this interaction on KrH+Rg and XeH+Rg with Rg = (Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe). A multilevel potential energy surface (PES) was used to simulate the vibrational structure of these complexes. This PES is a dual-level comprising of second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory and coupled-cluster singles doubles with perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] levels of ab initio theories. We found that when both the combination bands (nν1 + ν3) and bend overtone 2ν2 compete to borrow intensity from the ν3 band, the latter wins over the former, which then results in the suppression of the nν1 + ν3 bands. The current simulations offer new assignments for the ArH+Xe and KrH+Xe spectra. Complete basis set (CBS) binding energies for these complexes were also calculated at the CCSD(T)/CBS level.

Spectroscopic Signatures of Mode-Dependent Tunnel Splitting in the Iodide-Water Binary Complex.

The gas-phase vibrational spectrum of the isolated iodide-water cluster ion (I-·H2O), first reported in 1996, presents one of the most difficult, long-standing spectroscopic puzzles involving ion microhydration. Although the spectra of the smaller halides are well described in the context of an asymmetrical ground-state structure in which only one OH group is hydrogen-bonded to the ion, the I-·H2O spectrum displays multiplet structures with partially resolved rotational patterns that are additionally influenced by quantum nuclear spin statistics. In this study, this complex behavior is unraveled with a combination of experimental methods, including ion preparation in a temperature-controlled ion trap and spectral simplification through applications of tag-free, two-color IR-IR double-resonance spectroscopy. Analysis of the double-resonance spectra reveals a vibrational ground-state tunneling splitting of about 20 cm-1, which is on the same order as the spacing between the peaks that comprise the multiplet structure. These findings are further supported by the results obtained from a fully coupled, six-dimensional calculation of the vibrational spectrum. The underlying level structure can then be understood as a consequence of experimentally measurable, vibrational mode-dependent tunneling splittings (which, in the case of the ground vibrational state, is comparable to the rotational energy spacing between levels with Ka = 0 and 1), as well as Fermi resonance interactions. The latter include the hydrogen-bonded OH stretches and combination bands that involve the HOH bend overtones and soft-mode excitations of frustrated translation and rotation displacements of the water molecule relative to the ion. These anharmonic couplings yield closely spaced bands that are activated in the IR by borrowing intensity from the OH stretch fundamentals.

Dinitrogen Coupling to a Terpyridine-Molybdenum Chromophore Is Switched on by Fermi Resonance

Summary The traditional view of a chemical change is inherently local and classical, and such a change relies on a mix of thermodynamic and kinetic parameters to control reactivity. Often, the thermodynamic stability of chemical bonds necessitates significant energy input for activation. One fundamental question is potentially transformative: can quantum mechanics enable selective bond activation? A possible approach involves strategic input of energy to reaction-specific vibrational levels. Toward this goal, our work describes the coupling of vibrational motions in a terpyridine-molybdenum complex hosting a nonreactive substrate—dinitrogen. Ultrafast coherence spectroscopies revealed a Fermi-resonance coupling mechanism connecting in-plane breathing motion of the light-harvesting terpyridines with the stretching motion of the spatially disparate dinitrogen bridge. Notably, the coupling is significantly enhanced in the photoexcited state. This Fermi resonance indicates an energy conduit that drives the two motions in sync and thereby amplifies vibrational energy exchange. Achieving selective bond activation by bridging vibrations could present a quantum-inspired design principle in synthetic chemistry.

Vibrational tug-of-war: The pKA dependence of the broad vibrational features of strongly hydrogen-bonded carboxylic acids.

Medium and strong hydrogen bonds give rise to broad vibrational features frequently spanning several hundred wavenumbers and oftentimes exhibiting unusual substructures. These broad vibrational features can be modeled from first principles, in a reduced dimensional calculation, that adiabatically separates low-frequency modes, which modulate the hydrogen bond length, from high-frequency OH stretch and bend modes that contribute to the vibrational structure. Previously this method was used to investigate the origin of an unusual vibrational feature frequently found in the spectra of dimers between carboxylic acids and nitrogen-containing aromatic bases that spans over 900 cm-1 and contains two broad peaks. It was found that the width of this feature largely originates from low-frequency modes modulating the hydrogen bond length and that the structure results from Fermi resonance interactions. In this report, we examine how these features change with the relative acid and base strength of the components as reflected by their aqueous pKA values. Dimers with large pKA differences are found to have features that can extend to frequencies below 1000 cm-1. The relationships between mean OH/NH frequency, aqueous pKA, and O-N distance are examined in order to obtain a more rigorous understanding of the origin and shape of the vibrational features. The mean OH/NH frequencies are found to correlate well with O-N distances. The lowest OH stretch frequencies are found in dimer geometries with O-N distances between 2.5 and 2.6 Å. At larger O-N distances, the hydrogen bonding interaction is not as strong, resulting in higher OH stretch frequencies. When the O-N distance is smaller than 2.5 Å, the limited space between the O and N determines the OH stretch frequency, which gives rise to frequencies that decrease with O-N distances. These two effects place a lower limit on the OH stretch frequency which is calculated to be near 700 cm-1. Understanding how the vibrational features of strongly hydrogen-bonded structures depend on the relative pKA and other structural parameters will guide studies of biological structures and analysis of proton transfer studies using photoacids.

High-resolution infrared studies of perdeutero-spiropentane, C5D8

Perdeutero-spiropentane (C5D8) has been synthesized, and infrared and Raman spectra are reported for the first time. Wavenumber assignments are made for most of the fundamental vibrational states. Gas phase infrared spectra were recorded at a resolution (0.002cm−1) sufficient to resolve individual rovibrational lines and show evidence of strong Coriolis and/or Fermi resonance interactions for most bands. However a detailed rovibrational analysis of the fundamental ν15 (b2) parallel band proved possible, and a fit of more than 1600 lines yielded a band origin of 1053.84465(10)cm−1 and ground state constants (in units of cm−1): B0=0.1120700(9), DJ=1.51(3)×10−8, DJK=3.42(15)×10−8. We note that the B0 value is significantly less than a value of Ba=0.1140cm−1 calculated using structural parameters from an earlier electron diffraction (ED) study, whereas one expects Ba to be lower than B0 because of thermal averaging over higher vibrational levels. A similar discrepancy was noted in an earlier study of C5H8 (Price et al., 2011). The structural and spectroscopic results are in good accord with values computed at the anharmonic level using the B3LYP density functional method with a cc-pVTZ basis set.

Vibrational dephasing in ionic liquids as a signature of hydrogen bonding.

Understanding both structure and dynamics is crucial for producing tailor-made ionic liquids (ILs). We studied the vibrational and structural dynamics of medium versus weakly hydrogen-bonded CH groups of the imidazolium ring in ILs of the type [1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium][bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide] ([Cn mim][NTf2 ]), with n=1, 2, and 8, by time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and quantum-classical hybrid (QCH) simulations. From the time series of the CARS spectra, dephasing times were extracted by modeling the full nonlinear response. From the QCH calculations, pure dephasing times were obtained by analyzing the distribution of transition frequencies. Experiments and calculations reveal larger dephasing rates for the vibrational stretching modes of C(2)H compared with the more weakly hydrogen-bonded C(4,5)H. This finding can be understood in terms of different H-bonding motifs and the fast interconversion between them. Differences in population relaxation rates are attributed to Fermi resonance interactions.

Phase transitions in non-centrosymmetric pyridinium trifluoromethanesulfonate crystal: Vibrational studies

Infrared spectroscopy (4000–400cm−1) in the wide temperature range, from 11 to 473K, has been used to investigate the non-centrosymmetric pyridinium trifluoromethanesulfonate crystal, exhibiting several phase transitions. The assignments of the bands observed in the studied spectra have been proposed. The temperature dependence of the wavenumbers and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the bands arising from some internal vibrations of the pyridinium cation and the triflate anion have been analyzed in order to achieve a knowledge of whether these both ions are involved in the phase transitions and what is the role of these both ions in these phase transitions. The infrared measurements showed that the both ions, pyridinium cation and triflate anion are involved in the high temperature phase transitions of the order–disorder type, previously reported at 305.1 and 396.7K. They also revealed that these transitions are governed by a rotational mobility (changes in dynamical states) of both the pyridinium and triflate ions. Our results show that the multiple structures of the νNH and νND bands observed in the studied infrared spectra is due to the Fermi resonance interaction between the stretching vibration of the N–H⋯O hydrogen bond and the overtones and combinations of the internal vibrations of the pyridinium cation.

Anharmonic interactions and temperature effects in Raman spectra of Si nanostructures

An additional Raman phonon band observed for Si crystallites at high excitation power is studied theoretically. Laser-induced heating is supposed to induce stress in crystallites, leading to splitting of degenerated F2g, Eg phonon states into А′ and А′′ ones. The enhancement of anharmonicity effects expected at high temperature may lead to strong coupling between А′ (А′′) fundamental modes with combination tones arising at splitting F2g, Eg states. As a result, the Fermi resonance interaction between the optical modes from Г-point and sum of acoustic modes from L-point can explain the temperature behavior of experimentally observed additional optical phonon band in Raman spectra of Si nanocrystallites.

Ground and excited state infrared spectroscopy of jet-cooled radicals: exploring the photophysics of trihydronaphthyl and inden-2-ylmethyl.

The alkyl and aromatic CH stretch infrared spectra of inden-2-ylmethyl (I2M, C10H9) and trihydronaphthyl (THN, C10H11) radicals have been recorded under jet-cooled conditions in the ground (D0) and first electronically excited (D1) states using resonant ion-dip infrared (RIDIR) spectroscopy. Previously, the vibronic spectroscopy of a series of C10H9 and C10H11 hydronaphthyl radicals were investigated and their thermochemical properties were evaluated with isomer specificity [J. A. Sebree et al., J. Phys. Chem. A 11, 6255-6262 (2010)]. We show here that one of the m/z 129 spectral carriers characterized in that work was misidentified as 2-hydronaphthyl (2-HN) radical, appearing in a discharge of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene in close proximity to 1-hydronaphthyl radical. The D0-RIDIR spectrum in the alkyl CH stretch region positively identifies the m/z 129 isomer as I2M, whose two-color resonant two-photon ionization (2C-R2PI) spectrum was recently reported by Schmidt and co-workers [T. P. Troy et al., Chem. Sci. 2, 1755-1765 (2011)]. Here, we further characterize the I2M and THN radicals by recording their gas phase IR spectra in the alkyl and aromatic CH stretch regions, and explore the spectroscopic consequences of electronic excitation on the CH stretch absorptions. A local-mode CH stretch Hamiltonian incorporating cubic stretch-bend coupling between anharmonic CH stretches and CH2 scissor modes is utilized to describe their Fermi resonance interactions. Excellent agreement between the experimental and theoretical results facilitates the interpretation of the D0- and D1-state RIDIR spectra of I2M, revealing that upon excitation the alkyl CH stretches decrease in frequency by 70 cm(-1), while the allyl-like CH stretches experience a modest blueshift. In comparison, the photophysics of THN are strikingly different in that the IR transitions that possess vibrational motion along the CβH and CδH bonds are absent in the D1-RIDIR spectrum yet are predicted to be present from the theoretical model. Several hypotheses are considered to account for the perturbations to these vibrations.

A First-Principles Model of Fermi Resonance in the Alkyl CH Stretch Region: Application to Hydronaphthalenes, Indanes, and Cyclohexane

The infrared (IR) spectroscopy of the alkyl CH stretch region (2750-3000 cm(-1)) of a series of bicyclic hydrocarbons and free radicals has been studied under supersonic expansion cooling in the gas phase, and compared with a theoretical model that describes the local mode stretch-bend Fermi resonance interactions. The double resonance method of fluorescence-dip infrared (FDIR) spectroscopy was used on the stable molecules 1,2-dihydronaphthalene, 1,4-dihydronaphthalene, tetralin, indene, and indane using the S0-S1 origin transition as a monitor of transitions. Resonant ion-dip infrared (RIDIR) spectra were recorded for the trihydronaphthyl (THN) and inden-2-yl methyl (I2M) radicals. The previously developed model Hamiltonian (J. Chem. Phys. 2013, 138, 064308) incorporates cubic stretch-bend coupling with parameters obtained from density functional theory methods. Full dimensional calculations are compared to reduced dimensional Hamiltonian results in which anharmonic CH stretches and CH2 scissor modes are Fermi coupled. Excellent agreement between theoretical results is found. Scale factors of select terms in the reduced dimensional Hamiltonian, obtained by fitting the theoretical Hamiltonian predictions to the experimental spectra, are found to be similar to previous work. The resulting Hamiltonian predicts successfully all the major spectral features considered in this study. A simplified model is introduced in which the CH2 groups are decoupled. This model enables the assignment of many of the spectral features. The model results are extended to describe the CH stretch spectrum of the chair and twist-boat conformers of cyclohexane. The chair conformer is used to illustrate the shortcomings of the CH2 decoupling model.

Study of packing of 4′-butyl-4-isothiocyanatotolane by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectra in polarized light

The packing properties of 4′-butylo-4-isothiocyanatotolane in the solid state and the liquid crystalline phases were studied by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The crystal structure comprises a herringbone-like packing with an efficient π–π overlap. The factors that shape the unusual broad νas(NCS) band are discussed. Selection of modes involved in the Fermi resonance interaction with the νas(NCS) vibration is supported by directions of their transition dipole moments obtained at the DFT calculations. A specific rearrangement in the herringbone packing, accompanying transition from the solid state to the isotropic phase was confirmed by the dichroic ratio values.

Direct imaging of the Fermi resonance interaction inpara-difluorobenzene: A special insight into energy redistributions in theS1low-energy regime

We have experimentally observed the dynamics of the Fermi resonance interaction in the ${S}_{1}$ low-energy regime of para-difluorobenzene at $+$819 cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ by femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron imaging technique. The Fermi resonance interaction is clearly demonstrated by the time dependence of the photoelectron spectra; furthermore, the corresponding photoelectron angular distributions (PADs) clearly reflect each Fermi component character of the resonance ${5}^{1}\ensuremath{\cdots}{6}^{2}$. The oscillation period for the Fermi resonance is estimated to be less than 20 ps from the time behavior of the photoelectron spectra, which is very close to our calculated oscillation period value of 13.3 ps. Our results demonstrate the vibrational energy transfer between the two Fermi resonance components of 5${}^{1}$ and 6${}^{2}$, suggestive of a special insight into the vibrational energy redistribution in the ${S}_{1}$ low-energy regime of para-difluorobenzene.

High-resolution infrared spectra of spiropentane, C 5H 8

Infrared spectra of spiropentane (C 5H 8) have been recorded at a resolution (0.002 cm −1) sufficient to resolve for the first time individual rovibrational lines. This initial report presents the ground state rotational constants for this molecule determined from the detailed analysis of the ν 16 ( b 2) parallel band at 993 cm −1. In addition, the determination included more than 2000 ground state combination-differences deduced from partial analyses of four other infrared-allowed bands, the ν 24( e) perpendicular band at 780 cm −1 and three ( b 2) parallel bands at 1540 cm −1 ( ν 14), 1568 cm −1 ( ν 5 + ν 16), and 2098 cm −1 ( ν 5 + ν 14). In each of the latter four cases, the spectra show complications; in the case of ν 24, these complications are due to rotational l-type doublings, and in the case of the parallel bands, the spectral complexities are due to Fermi resonance and Coriolis interactions of the upper states with nearby levels. The unraveling of these is underway but the assignment of many of these transitions permit the confident use of the ground state differences in determining the following constants for the ground state (in units of cm −1): B 0 = 0.1394741(1), D J = 2.461(1) × 10 −8, D JK = 8.69(3) × 10 −8. For the unperturbed ν 16 fundamental, more than 3000 transitions were fit and the band origin was found to be at 992.53793(3) cm −1. The numbers in parentheses are the uncertainties (two standard deviations) in the value of the last digit of the constants. Surprisingly, the very accurate B 0 value measured here is lower than the value (0.1418 cm −1) calculated from an electron diffraction structure, instead of being higher, as expected. Where possible, the rovibrational results are compared with those computed at the anharmonic level using the B3LYP density functional method with a cc-pVTZ basis set. These too suggest that the electron diffraction results are in question.

Renner−Teller and Fermi Resonance Interactions for the v3 = 1 and v7 = 2 Vibronic Levels in the A2Πu and X2Πg Electronic States of HC4H+

The excitation of the v(3) = 1 (σ(g)(+) C-C stretch) and the v(7) = 2 (π(g)(2) C≡C-C bend) modes in the A(2)Π(u) electronic state of diacetylene cations results in Renner-Teller (R-T) and Fermi interactions. The 3(0)(1) and 7(0)(2) vibronic bands in the A(2)Π(u)-X(2)Π(g) transition of HC(4)H(+) have been measured with rotational resolution using cavity ringdown spectroscopy in a supersonic slit jet discharge. The analysis yields T(00) = 20520.828(4) cm(-1), B' = 0.14047(2) cm(-1), and A' = -17.95(1) cm(-1) for the v(3) = 1 and T(00) = 20573.659(4) cm(-1), B' = 0.14018(3) cm(-1), and A' = -11.55(1) cm(-1) for the v(7) = 2 level in the A(2)Π(u) electronic state. A vibronic analysis has been carried out taking into consideration the R-T, spin-orbit, and Fermi resonance interactions between the ν(3) and ν(7) modes. The levels are fitted to the eigenvalues of an appropriate Hamiltonian matrix. This yields the vibrational frequencies ω(3)′ = 811.8 cm(-1) and ω(7)′ = 403.2 cm(-1), Renner parameter ε(7)′ = 0.065, Fermi coefficients W(1)′ = 10.3 cm(-1) and W(2)′ = 5.1 cm(-1), and spin-orbit interaction constant A(SO)′ = -31.1 cm(-1). A corresponding R-T analysis has been carried out for the X(2)Π(g) ground state of HC(4)H(+) using data available in the literature [Callomon, J. H. Can. J. Phys. 1956, 34, 1046]. This gives ω(3)" = 956.2 cm(-1), ω(7)" = 435.4 cm(-1), ε(7)" = 0.028, W(1)" = 7.2 cm(-1), W(2)" = 10.9 cm(-1), and A(SO)" = -33.3 cm(-1).

Revisited vibrational assignments of imidazolium‐based ionic liquids

AbstractImidazolium‐based ionic liquids (ILs) involving anions of variable coordinating strength have been investigated using infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopies, density functional theory (DFT) calculations and selective deuteration of the imidazolium CH groups. Particular emphasis has been placed on the vibrational assignments of the anion and cation internal vibrations, a prerequisite before any interpretation of spectral changes due to ion–ion interactions in these unconventional liquids. The vibrations of highly symmetric and weakly coordinating anions, such as PF6−, have unperturbed wavenumbers, but unexpected IR or Raman activity for some modes, showing that the anion is subjected to an anisotropic electric field. The stretching as well as the in‐plane and out‐of‐plane bending modes of the imidazolium CH groups are anharmonic. They give broad bands that reflect a large distribution of interactions with the surrounding anions. All the bending modes are mixed with ring vibrations and the stretching modes are complicated by Fermi resonance interactions with overtones and combination of in‐plane ring modes. However, the stretching vibration of the quasi‐diatomic C(2)D bond appears to be a good spectroscopic probe of the increasing cation–anion interactions when the coordinating strength of the anion increases. The broad absorption observed in the far IR with weakly coordinating anions remains practically unchanged when the acidic C(2)H imidazolium bond is methylated and even when the imidazolium cation is substituted by tetra‐alkyl ammonium or pyrrolidinium cations. It is concluded that this absorption is a general feature of any IL, coming from the relative translational and librational motions of the ions without needing to invoke C(2)H anion hydrogen bonds. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

2D IR Spectroscopy of the C–D stretching vibration of the deuterated formic acid dimer

We report transient grating and 2D IR spectra of the C-D stretching vibration of deuterated formic acid dimer. The C-D stretching transition is perturbed by an accidental Fermi resonance interaction that gives rise to a second transition. The transient grating results show that the population lifetime of these states, which are in rapid equilibrium, is 11 ps. 2D IR spectroscopy reveals the energies of the eigenstates in the regions of one quantum and two quanta of C-D stretching excitation. Using these eigenstate energies, we construct a simplified model for the zeroth-order states that we then use to simulate the 2D IR spectrum. The results of this simulation suggest that the model captures the essential features of the vibrational spectroscopy in the region of the C-D stretching transition and compares well with previous gas-phase spectroscopy of the C-D stretch of deuterated formic acid dimer.

Two-dimensional infrared study of 3-azidopyridine as a potential spectroscopic reporter of protonation state

The lack of general spectroscopic probes that can be used in a range of systems to probe kinetics and dynamics is a major obstacle to the widespread application of two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy. We have studied 3-azidopyridine to characterize its potential as a probe of the protonation state of the pyridine ring. We find that the azido-stretching vibration is split by accidental Fermi resonance interactions with one or more overtones and combination states. Using 2D IR spectroscopy, we determine the state structure of the resulting eigenstates for complexes of 3-azidopyridine with formic acid and trifluoroacetic acid in which the pyridine ring is unprotonated and protonated, respectively. Based on the measurements, we develop a two-oscillator depurturbation model to determine the energies and couplings of the zeroth-order azido-stretching state and the perturbing dark state that couples to it. Based on these results, we conclude that the azido-stretching vibration is, in fact, sensitive to the protonation state of the pyridine shifting up in frequency by 8 cm(-1) in the complex with trifluoroacetic acid relative to the formic acid complex. These results suggest that, although 3-azidopyridine is not suitable as a spectroscopic probe, the approach of employing an organic azide as a remote probe of protonation state holds significant promise.