Simulated Raman spectra of four tetraphenylbutadiene polymorphs

We report a combined experimental and theoretical investigation on the Raman spectra of the polymorphs α, β, γ, and δ of 1,1,4,4‐tetraphenyl‐1,3‐butadiene (TPB), in the region of the intramolecular modes. The interpretation of the polarized spectra is supported by ab‐initio calculations for the isolated molecules and by lattice dynamics calculations for the crystals. The calculations reproduce the peculiar, and surprisingly large, differences among the spectra of the various polymorphs. The phenyl groups of 1,1,4,4‐tetraphenyl‐1,3‐butadiene may arrange themselves around the butadiene skeleton in 2 stable conformers, which have either inversion (C_i) or 2‐fold (C₂) symmetry and therefore exhibit intramolecular vibrations with quite different Raman selection rules and spectra. The compound forms 4 crystalline polymorphs (α, β, γ, and δ) with different combinations of C_i and C₂ conformers, and correspondingly different intramolecular spectra. The theoretical calculations provide a quantitative analysis of the various spectra.     

High-resolution solid-state 2H NMR spectroscopy of polymorphs of glycine

High-resolution solid-state (2)H MAS NMR studies of the α and γ polymorphs of fully deuterated glycine (glycine-d(5)) are reported. Analysis of spinning sideband patterns is used to determine the (2)H quadrupole interaction parameters, and is shown to yield good agreement with the corresponding parameters determined from single-crystal (2)H NMR measurements (the maximum deviation in quadrupole coupling constants determined from these two approaches is only 1%). From analysis of simulated (2)H MAS NMR sideband patterns as a function of reorientational jump frequency (κ) for the -N(+)D(3) group in glycine-d(5), the experimentally observed differences in the (2)H MAS NMR spectrum for the -N(+)D(3) deutrons in the α and γ polymorphs is attributed to differences in the rate of reorientation of the -N(+)D(3) group. These simulations show severe broadening of the (2)H MAS NMR signal in the intermediate motion regime, suggesting that deuterons undergoing reorientational motions at rates in the range κ ≈ 10(4)-10(6) s(-1) are likely to be undetectable in (2)H MAS NMR measurements for materials with natural isotopic abundances. The (1)H NMR chemical shifts for the α and γ polymorphs of glycine have been determined from the (2)H MAS NMR results, taking into account the known second-order shift. Further quantum mechanical calculations of (2)H quadrupole interaction parameters and (1)H chemical shifts reveal the structural dependence of these parameters in the two polymorphs and suggest that the existence of two short intermolecular C-H···O contacts for one of the H atoms of the >CH(2) group in the α polymorph have a significant influence on the (2)H quadrupole coupling and (1)H chemical shift for this site.     

Low-temperature heat capacity of α and γ polymorphs of glycine

Low-temperature heat capacity of two polymorphs of glycine (α and γ) was measured from 5.5 to 304 K and thermodynamic functions were calculated. Difference in heat capacity between polymorphs ranges from +26% at 10 K to -3% at 300 K. The difference indicates the contribution into the heat capacity of piezoelectric γ polymorph, probably connected with phase transition and ferroelectricity. Thermodynamic evaluations show that at ambient conditions γ polymorph is stable and α polymorph is metastable. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The methyl and methoxyl torsional modes and the lattice vibration in the low-frequency Raman spectrum of 1,4-dimethoxybenzene

The low-frequency (10–450 cm^?1) Raman spectra of solid (at 300 K and 130 K) and liquid (at 335 K) 1,4-dimethoxybenzene-d₀ and 1,4-dimethoxybenzene-d₅ have been measured. The methyl nad methoxyl torsional transitions have been identified and the corresponding torsional barriers calculated. Upon deuleration the methyl torsional barrier is reduced by 450 cm^?1, implying a coupling between the methyl torsion and a low-frequency ring mode. As far as the torsions are considered, the internal dynamic situation in 1,4-dimethoxybezene resembles that in amisole. A tentative assignment of the observed lattice bands in given. Certain changes in the spectrum when going from the solid to the melt are attributed to the coexistence of both cis and trans conformers in the liquid state.     

Conformational heterogeneity and low-frequency vibrational modes of proteins

Molecular dynamics simulation and normal mode analysis are used to calculate the vibrational density of states of dihydrofolate reductase complexed with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate at 120 K and the results are compared with the experimental spectrum derived from inelastic neutron scattering. The simulation results indicate that the experimental spectrum arises from an average over proteins trapped in different conformations with structural differences mainly in the loop regions, and that these conformations have significantly different low-frequency (<20 cm(-1)) spectra. Thus, the experimentally measured spectrum is an average over the vibrational modes of different protein conformations and is thus inhomogeneously broadened. The implications of this broadening for future neutron scattering experiments and ligand binding calculations are discussed.     

Fast identification of rubrene polymorphs by lattice phonon Raman microscopy

Confocal Raman microscopy in the lattice phonon region has been used to study the polymorphism of the organic semiconductor 5,6,11,12-tetraphenyl-tetracene (rubrene). Following literature guidelines, crystals of rubrene have been prepared using a number of solution growth and vapour deposition methods, obtaining samples of different morphologies which could be related to the various polymorphs of this compound. The technique has enabled us an easy and non invasive identification of the three known polymorphs and of their phase homogeneity with a lateral spatial resolution below 1 μm.     

Raman scattering in GeS2 glass and its crystalline polymorphs compared

Raman spectrum of glassy GeS₂ and low-resolution ones of polycrystalline α- and β-GeS₂ were studied. It was shown that the medium range structure of glassy GeS₂ is similar to the three-dimensional structure of β-GeS₂. Our conclusion of similarity of medium range order of glassy GeS₂ and β-GeS₂ was also confirmed by detection of β-GeS₂ microcrystals grown from glassy GeS₂ at annealing temperature sufficiently below glass transition temperature.     

High-resolution Raman spectroscopy study of phonon modes in LiBH4 and LiBD4

We have performed micro Raman measurements on LiBH4 and LiBD4 powders for temperatures between 5 and 300 K. At the lowest temperature, the peak energies agree very well with the results of a calculation within the density functional theory for the orthorhombic structure. The spectra are dominated by three separated bands: the external modes, the internal bending, and the internal stretching vibrations. Internal refers to vibrations within the BH 4 tetrahedrons, whereas external modes imply motions of Li and BH 4. The temperature dependence of the observed phonons corroborates the strong anharmonicity of the system. Due to the anharmonicity, Fermi resonances occur between the first order stretching modes and the second order bending modes of LiBH4. Moreover, the linewidths of the observed modes in LiBH4 have an Arrhenius-like component, with activation energies ranging from 250 to 500 K.     

Thermal study of prednisolone polymorphs

Prednisolone, a commercial product (polymorph 1), when crystallized from a methanol-water mixture, gives polymorph 2. By heating form 2, polymorph 3 has been isolated. The thermal behaviour of the three forms has been studied.     

Structure-property relationships in the crystals of the smallest amino acid: an incoherent inelastic neutron scattering study of the glycine polymorphs

Incoherent inelastic neutron scattering spectra for the three crystalline polymorphs (alpha- P2(1)/n, beta- P2(1), gamma- P3(1)) of glycine (C2H5NO2) at temperatures between 5 and 300 K (using the time-of-flight (ToF) spectrometer NEAT at HMI) and at pressures from ambient up to 1 GPa (using the ToF spectrometer IN6 at the ILL) were measured. Significant differences in the band positions and their relative intensities in the density of states (DoS) were observed for the three polymorphs, which can be related to the different intermolecular interactions. The mean-squared displacement, (T), dependence reveals a change in dynamic properties at about the same temperature (150 K) for all the three forms, which can be related to the reorientation of the NH3 group. Besides, a dynamic transition in beta-glycine at about 230-250 K on cooling was also observed, supporting previously obtained adiabatic calorimetry data. This behavior is similar to that already observed in amorphous solids, on approaching the glass transition temperatures, as well as in biological systems. It suggests the onset of degrees of freedom most likely related to transitions between slightly different conformational orientations. The DoS obtained as a function of pressure has confirmed the stability of the alpha-form with respect to pressure and also depicted a sign of the previously reported reversible beta-beta' glycine phase transition in between 0.6 and 0.8 GPa. Moreover, a remarkable kinetic effect in the pressure-induced phase transition in gamma-glycine was revealed. After the sample was kept at 0.8 GPa for an hour in the neutron beam, an irreversible transition into a high-pressure form (different from the beta'-form) occurred, although previously in X-Ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy experiments a gamma- to delta-glycine phase transition was observed above 3.5 GPa only.     

The intermediate frequency modes of single- and double-walled carbon nanotubes: a Raman spectroscopic and in situ Raman spectroelectrochemical study

The intermediate frequency modes (IFM) of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy and in situ Raman spectroelectrochemistry. The inner and outer tubes of DWCNTs manifested themselves as distinct bands in the IFM region. This confirmed the diameter dependence of IFM frequencies. Furthermore, the analysis of inner tubes of DWCNTs allowed a more-precise assignment of the bands in the IFM region to features intrinsic for carbon nanotubes. Although the inner tubes in DWCNTs are assumed to be structurally perfect, the role of defects on IFM was discussed. The dependence of IFM on electrochemical charging was also studied. In situ spectroelectrochemical data provide a means to distinguish the bands of the outer and inner tubes.     

Boson peak in the low-frequency Raman spectra of an ordinary liquid

Polarised and depolarised low-frequency Raman spectra of liquid formamide have been analysed. The employed fitting procedure shows convincingly that the Boson peak contribution to the overall low-frequency Raman pattern is present even in this ordinary, low-viscous liquid.     

The Raman spectra of the KOH-doped ice polymorphs: V and VI

The effect on the Raman spectra of the proton ordering induced by KOH in the high pressure phases of ice, ice V and VI has been studied. Our previous Raman studies of ice V and ice VI (ref.1) showed spectroscopic evidence of partial proton ordering at low temperatures (below about 130 K) in ice V and a possible phase change in ice VI. These conclusions were made on the measurements of the lattice vibration region. The present results, based on the observation of the bands due to the uncoupled O-D stretching vibrations of KOH-doped ice V and, in particular, ice VI, show that some kind of proton ordering or partial proton ordering may be induced by the presence of KOH dopant in these two ices.A Lorentzian curve fit has been used to separate the main band from the side bands in the relatively complex structured band due to the uncoupled O-D stretching vibration in ice V and ice VI.     

Mode-selective broadening in low-frequency vibrational modes of trans-stilbene van der waals complexes

Both RE2PI and LIF excitation spectra have been taken of several van der Waals complexes of trans-stilbene, p-methyl-, and m-methyl-trans-stilbene. The t-stilbene spectra reveal a strongly mode-dependent broadening of the van der Waals complex transitions associated with the low-frequency vibrations 82 and 95 cm⁻¹ above the origin. The fwhm of these peaks is three times as broad as any other feature in the spectrum. The source of the broadening appears to be fast vibrational relaxation from these modes to the van der Waals modes of the complex.     

The low-frequency Raman and IR spectra of nitric acid hydrates

The low-frequency region of the infrared and Raman spectra of nitric acid hydrates is analyzed. Theoretical calculations of the vibrational normal modes of the crystals of nitric acid monohydrate and the β-phases of the dihydrate and trihydrate are carried out, focusing the results in the regions below 175 cm⁻¹ and near the symmetric stretch of the nitrate ion NO₃⁻, around 1000–1100 cm⁻¹. A prediction of the corresponding infrared spectra is presented. A joint study is performed of the calculated normal modes, the predicted IR spectra, and the recently published Raman spectra of these compounds, based on symmetry considerations and using the atomic displacements associated to each normal mode as a further source of information. Although most of the modes present a strong mixture of atomic motions, assignments can be proposed for some of the vibrations.     

A Raman spectroscopic study of the low-frequency vibrations in anisole and anisole-d3

Low-frequency Raman spectra of solid anisole and of solid anisole-d₃ have been recorded at 130 K. The phenyl torsion observed at 148 cm^?1 is shifted to 133 cm^?1 upon deuteration of the methyl group. The twofold torsional barriers calculated from these frequencies are 4033 ± 110 cm^?1 and 4094 ± 123 cm^?1 indicating that coupling to other low-frequency modes in both cases is of the same order of magnitude. The methyl torsional mode was observed at 285 cm^?1 in the spectrum of solid anisole and at 183 cm^?1 in the spectrum of anisole-d₃. The threefold barriers calculated using these frequencies are 1847 ± 20 cm^?1 and 1465 ± 18 cm^?1 respectively. These barrier values indicate that the methyl torsion is coupled to another low-frequency mode. A doublet centered at 230 cm^?1 in anisole is shifted to 245 cm^?1 in anisole-d₃; it is proposed that this is due to a ring mode coupled to the methyl torsion. The splitting is interpreted as an example of Davydov splitting.     

A Raman spectroscopic study of the low-frequency vibrations of o-dimethoxybenzene and its methyl deuterated analogues

The low-frequency (100–400 cm⁻¹) Raman spectra of liquid (at 300 K) and solid (at 130 K) veratrole (o-dimethoxybenzene), and its methyl deuterated analogues, have been measured. The methyl and methoxyl torsional transitions have been identified, and the corresponding rotational barriers have been determined. The interpretation of the spectra points to a conformationally mixed situation for solid veratrole, in which both planar and non-planar conformers may co-exist.     

Surface-enhanced Raman spectra study of metal complexes of N-D-glucosamine beta-naphthaldehyde and glycine and their interaction with DNA

Copper(II), zinc(II), cobalt(II) and cobalt(III) complexes of N-D-glucosamine beta-naphthaldehyde (C17H19O6N, NG) and glycine were synthesized. The four novel metal complexes, Cu(II)C19H28O11N2(CuGNG), Zn(II)C19H24O9N2 (ZnGNG), Co(II)C19H28O11N2(Co(II)GNG) and Co(III)C21H29O12N2(Co(III)GNG) were characterized by means of infrared (IR), electronic absorption spectroscopy and NMR etc. The surface-enhanced Raman spectra of the four complexes and their interaction with DNA were studied. By comparison of the surface-enhanced Raman spectra (SERS), the information of the four complexes' SER active sites and adsorption orientation were obtained. Combined with fluorescence spectra of Ethidium bromide (EthBr) DNA system, we concluded that none of the four complexes intercalate into DNA and that the presence of the glycine ligand lowered the anticancer activity of NG series complexes.     

A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy study of aminothiophenol and aminothiophenol-C60 self-assembled monolayers: evolution of Raman modes with experimental parameters

P-aminothiophenol (PATP) is a well-known molecule for the preparation of self-assembled monolayers on gold via its thiol functional group. After adsorption, it has been demonstrated that this molecule is anchored to gold through its thiol group, and standing nearly upright at the surface with the amino functional group on top. This molecule has been extensively studied by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy but its exact SERS spectrum remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that it can be strongly affected by at least two experimental parameters: laser power and layer density. Those features are discussed in terms of a dimerization of the PATP molecules. The free amino group affords the adsorption of other molecules such as C(60). In this case, a complex multilayer system is formed and the question of its precise characterisation remains a key point. In this article, we demonstrate that surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy combined with x ray photoelectron spectroscopy can bring very important information about the organization of such a self-assembled multilayer on gold. In our study, the strong evolution of Raman modes after C(60) adsorption suggests a change in the organization of aminothiophenol molecules during C(60) adsorption. These changes, also observed when the aminothiophenol layer is annealed in toluene, do not prevent the adsorption of C(60) molecules.