Compositions and Structures of Methanesulfonic Acid Complexes with Acetonitrile According to IR Spectroscopic Data

IR spectra of solutions of methanesulfonic acid in acetonitrile are recorded and analyzed at 30°C at methanesulfonic acid concentrations ranging from 0 to 100%. Molecular 1 : 1 complexes with the coordination of the acid proton at the nitrogen atom of the acetonitrile molecule are formed over a wide range of acid concentrations. When the base is in excess, the whole amount of the acid is bound in these complexes. In solutions with excess acid, the solvation of the 1 : 1 complexes by several methanesulfonic acid molecules produces associates containing a structure fragment in which the acetonitrile molecule acts as both the donor and acceptor of hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bonds involving CH₃ groups of acetonitrile can be formed when the 1 : 1 complexes are solvated by several acid molecules.