Pressure-induced phase transitions in LiNH2

In situ high-pressure Raman spectroscopy studies on LiNH2 (lithium amide) have been performed at pressures up to 25 GPa. The pressure-induced changes in the Raman spectra of LiNH2 indicates a phase transition that begins at approximately 12 GPa is complete at approximately 14 GPa from ambient-pressure alpha-LiNH2 (tetragonal, I) to a high-pressure phase denoted here as beta-LiNH2. This phase transition is reversible upon decompression with the recovery of the alpha-LiNH2 phase at approximately 8 GPa. The N-H internal stretching modes (nu([NH2]-)) display an increase in frequency with pressure, and a new stretching mode corresponding to high-pressure beta-LiNH2 phase appears at approximately 12.5 GPa. Beyond approximately 14 GPa, the N-H stretching modes settle into two shouldered peaks at lower frequencies. The lattice modes show rich pressure dependence exhibiting multiple splitting and become well-resolved at pressures above approximately 14 GPa. This is indicative of orientational ordering [NH2]- ions in the lattice of the high-pressure beta-LiNH2 phase.     

Pressure-induced phase transformations in LiAlH4

The pressure-induced phase transformations in pure LiAlH4 have been studied using in situ Raman spectroscopy up to 7 GPa. The analyses of Raman spectra reveal a phase transition at approximately 3 GPa from the ambient pressure monoclinic alpha-LiAlH4 phase (P2(1)/c) to a high pressure phase (beta-LiAlH4, reported recently to be monoclinic with space group I4(1)/b) having a distorted [AlH4]- tetrahedron. The Al-H stretching mode softens and shifts dramatically to lower frequencies beyond the phase transformation pressure. The high pressure beta-LiAlH4 phase was pressure quenchable and can be recovered at lower pressures ( approximately 1.2 GPa). The Al-H stretching mode in the quenched state further shifts to lower frequencies, suggesting a weakening of the Al-H bond.     

Pressure-tuning Raman and infrared spectra of N-thiocyanato[tris(o-tolyl)]tin(IV), (o-CH3C6H4)3SnNCS

The effect of high external pressures on the Raman and IR spectra of the title compound (I) has been examined at ambient temperature. A pressure-induced phase transition was observed at 13–16 kbar, which is most likely second-order, resulting from slight rotations of the phenyl rings and/or the CH₃ groups under the influence of pressure. No new peaks were observed in the spectra with increasing pressure indicating that no pressure-induced linkage isomerism or SnNCS⋯Sn bridging took place. The average pressure sensitivity (dν/dP) of the Raman-active vibrational modes is lower in the low-pressure region (0.23 cm⁻¹/kbar) than in the high-pressure one (0.47 cm⁻¹/kbar). In general, the IR-active modes are less sensitive to increasing pressure than are the Raman-active modes and the average dν/dP value for the IR-active modes in the low-pressure region is quite similar to that in the high-pressure region, i.e., about 0.23 cm⁻¹/kbar.     

High-pressure spin-crossover in a dinuclear Fe(II) complex

The effect of pressure on the dinuclear spin crossover material [{Fe(bpp)(NCS)(2)}(2)(4,4'-bipy)]·2MeOH (where bpp = 2,6-bis(pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine and 4,4'-bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine, 1) has been investigated with single crystal X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy using diamond anvil cell techniques. The very gradual pressure-induced spin crossover occurs between 7 and 25 kbar, and shows no evidence of crystallographic phase transitions. The pressure-induced spin transition leads to a complete LS state which is not thermally accessible. This structural evolution under pressure is in stark contrast to the previously reported thermal spin crossover behaviour, in which a symmetry-breaking, purely structural phase transition results in only partial conversion to the low spin state. This observation is attributed to the symmetry-breaking phase transition becoming unfavourable under pressure.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of liquid methanol. II. Unified assignment of infrared, Raman, and sum frequency generation vibrational spectra in methyl C-H stretching region

Vibrational spectra of methyl C-H stretching region are notoriously complicated, and thus a theoretical method of systematic assignment is strongly called for in condensed phase. Here we develop a unified analysis method of the vibrational spectra, such as infrared (IR), polarized and depolarized Raman, and ssp polarized sum frequency generation (SFG), by flexible and polarizable molecular dynamics simulation. The molecular model for methanol has been developed by charge response kernel model to allow for analyzing the methyl C-H stretching vibrations. The complicated spectral structure by the Fermi resonance has been unraveled by empirically shifting potential parameters, which provides clear information on the coupling mechanism. The analysis confirmed that for the IR, polarized Raman, and SFG spectra, two-band structure at about 2830 and 2950 cm(-1) results from the Fermi resonance splitting of the methyl C-H symmetric stretching and bending overtones. In the IR spectrum, the latter, higher-frequency band is overlapped with prominent asymmetric C-H stretching bands. In the depolarized Raman spectrum, the high frequency band at about 2980 cm(-1) is assigned to the asymmetric C-H stretching mode. In the SFG spectrum, the two bands of the splitted symmetric C-H stretching mode have negative amplitudes of imaginary nonlinear susceptibility χ(2), while the higher-frequency band is partly cancelled by positive imaginary components of asymmetric C-H stretching modes.     

High-pressure FT IR measurements of crystalline methylene chloride up to 120 kbar in the diamond anvil cell

The FT IR spectra of pressure-induced crystalline CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature were measured at hydrostatic pressures up to 120 kbar in the diamond anvil cell. The pressure dependences of the internal modes (ν₃, ν₉, ν₈, and ν₂) are reported and compared with the result of Raman scattering measurements. The discontinuity of the slope (dν/dP) at ≈ 45 kbar for the ν₉ antisymmetric CCl streching mode indicates the pressure-induced second-order phase transition which seems to be triggered by the interaction between the ν₉ mode and the ν₃ symmetric CCl stretching mode.     

The pressure tunning Raman spectral studies of the bilirubinIXalpha and neutral calcium bilirubinate at high external pressure

The bilirubinIXalpha and its neutral calcium bilirubinate were studied using Raman spectroscopy at high external pressure. The results showed that the bilirubinIXalpha has two pressure-induced phase transitions (15-18 and 30-36 kbar) and three pressure phase areas. Its pressure sensitivities in the low-pressure phase are very low. It is believed that the four internally hydrogen bonds in bilirubinIXalpha molecule cause the atoms to attract each other tightly in the bilirubinIXalpha molecule. Therefore, the low pressure is not strong enough to shorten the bonds significantly. The pressure sensitivities in the middle-pressure phase are much higher than those in the low-pressure phase, but those in the high-pressure phase are slightly lower than in the middle-pressure phase. There is only one pressure-induced phase transition (25-34 kbar) in the neutral calcium bilirubinate. The pressure sensitivities in the low-pressure phase are higher than those in the high-pressure phase as usually.     

An IR study of poly-1,4-phenylenevinylene (PPV), the 2,5-dimethoxy derivative [(MeO)2-PPV], and their corresponding xanthate precursor polymers and monomers

A detailed comparison of the infrared (IR) spectra of poly-1,4-phenylenevinylene (PPV), its xanthate precursor polymer, and its bis-xanthate precursor monomer along with the corresponding 2,5-dimethoxy derivatives has provided a clearer basis for characterizing these species with regard to both structure and purity. All the xanthate precursor monomers and polymers exhibit characteristic intense absorptions typical of the xanthate group near 1220, 1110, and 1050 cm(-1). Upon complete conversion of the precursor polymer to the vinylene linked final product, the intense IR peaks of the xanthate group have disappeared and new bands resulting from the vinylene linkages are found. The latter include a moderately strong band near 965 cm(-1) due to the out-of-plane -CHCH- deformation of the trans-vinylene conjugated with and linking the phenyl rings into an optoelectronic polymer. Unfortunately, the corresponding C-H stretching vibration of this same group of atoms expected to appear near 3020 cm(-1) falls in the same region of the spectrum as the aromatic C-H stretches of the phenyl rings. Similarly, for the 2,5-dimethoxy polymer derivative, [(MeO)(2)-PPV], the C-H stretching vibration near 3055 cm(-1) contains contributions from both aromatic and vinylene C-H. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the monomers were instrumental in assigning the infrared spectra of these materials. This study provides a systemic means for verifying that the precursor monomer has been polymerized into the precursor polymer and that thermal conversion to the conjugated polymer is complete.     

Continuous and discontinuous phase transitions in ammonium halides

Raman spectra of NH₄Cl and NH₄Br have been recorded as functions of temperature and pressure. The λ-type phase transition in NH₄Cl has been studied as (i) a weakly first order. (ii) a tricritical and (iii) a second order transition. A strongly first order transition has been studied in NH₄Br. The analysis of the data has concentrated on the correlation of frequency shift with volume change across the phase change regions. This correlation has been established for the frequencies of the ν₂ and ν₅ Raman modes of NH₄Cl at zero pressure (1st order) 1.6 kbar (tricritical) and 2.8 kbar (2nd order), and the frequencies of the ν₅ Raman mode of NH₄Br at zero pressure (1st order). A single Y (mode Grünelsen parameter) has been shown to describe each frequency shift right through the phase change region once an order-disorder contribution has been introduced at and below the transition temperatures.     

Vibrational spectroscopic force field studies of dimethyl sulfoxide and hexakis(dimethyl sulfoxide)scandium(III) iodide, and crystal and solution structure of the hexakis(dimethyl sulfoxide)scandium(III) ion

Hexakis(dimethyl sulfoxide)scandium(III) iodide, [Sc(OS(CH(3))(2))(6)]I(3) contains centrosymmetric hexasolvated scandium(III) ions with an Sc-O bond distance of 2.069(3) angstroms. EXAFS spectra yield a mean Sc-O bond distance of 2.09(1) angstroms for solvated scandium(III) ions in dimethyl sulfoxide solution, consistent with six-coordination. Raman and infrared absorption spectra have been recorded, also of the deuterated compound, and analysed by means of normal coordinate methods, together with spectra of dimethyl sulfoxide. The effects on the vibrational spectra of the weak intermolecular C-H...O interactions and of the dipole-dipole interactions in liquid dimethyl sulfoxide have been evaluated, in particular for the S-O stretching mode. The strong Raman band at 1043.6 cm(-1) and the intense IR absorption at 1062.6 cm(-1) have been assigned as the S-O stretching frequencies of the dominating species in liquid dimethyl sulfoxide, evaluated as centrosymmetric dimers with antiparallel polar S-O groups. The shifts of vibrational frequencies and force constants for coordinated dimethyl sulfoxide ligands in hexasolvated trivalent metal ion complexes are discussed. Hexasolvated scandium(iii) ions are found in dimethyl sulfoxide solution and in [Sc(OSMe(2))(6)]I(3). The iodide ion-dipole attraction shifts the methyl group C-H stretching frequency for (S-)C-H...I(-) more than for the intermolecular (S-)C-H...O interactions in liquid dimethyl sulfoxide.     

Raman frequency shifts of an internal mode near the tricritical and second order phase transitions in NH4Cl

This study gives our analysis for the frequency shifts of the v2 (1708 cm-1) Raman mode in NH4Cl close to its tricritical (P=1.6 kbar) and second order (P=2.8 kbar) phase transitions. From our analysis, we extract the values of the critical exponent which describes the critical behavior of the Raman frequency shifts for this internal mode for the pressure conditions studied in NH4Cl. Our exponent value of alpha approximately 0.2 for the tricritical phase transition is close to the values of 1/16 (TTc) for the specific heat, predicted from a 3D Ising model. Our exponent values for the second order phase transition (P=2.8 kbar) for TTc are comparable with those reported in earlier studies.     

The pressure tunning Raman and IR spectral studies on the multinuclear metal carbyne complexes

The Raman and infrared (IR) spectra of four tungsten metal carbyne complexes I, II, IV and V [Cl(CO)2(L)W[triple bond]CC6H4[triple bond](C[triple bond]CC6H4)n[triple bond]N[triple bond]C[triple bond]]2M (L = TMEDA, n = 0, M = PdI2 or ReCl(CO)3; L = DPPE, n = 1, M = PdI2 or ReCl(CO)3) were studied at high external pressure. Their pressure-induced phase transitions were observed near 20kbar (complexes I), 15 kbar (complexes II), 25 kbar (complex IV) and 30 kbar (complex V). The pressure-induced phase transition likely is first order in complex I and the pressure-induced phase transitions of complexes II, IV and V are mostly second order. The pressure sensitivities d nu/dp of nu(W[triple bond]C) are high in the low-pressure phase area and very low in the high-pressure phase area due to the pressure strengthening pi back-bonding from metal W to pi* orbital of C[triple bond]O in fragment Cl(CO)2(L)W[triple bond]C. The pressure strengthening metal pi back-bonding from metal Re or Pd to pi* orbital of C[triple bond]O or C[triple bond]N also happened to both of central metal centers of NCPd(I2)CN in complex I and NCReCl(CO)3CN in complex II.     

Investigation of liquid crystalline property of a new calamitic liquid crystalline system methyl 4-(4ʹ-(4ʹʹ-(decyloxy)benzyloxy) benzylideneamino)benzoate

A new polar calamitic liquid crystal, methyl 4-(4?-(4?-(decyloxy)benzyloxy) benzylideneamino)benzoate (M3BA) containing ether and Schiff base groups as linker with terminal polar ester group, has been synthesised and mesomorphic properties are studied by differential scanning calorimetry, polarising optical microscopy, density functional theory, temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction and temperature-dependent micro- Raman study. The smectic A (SmA) mesophase with focal conic texture has been observed with wide mesomorphic range. Layer thickness in SmA phase is greater than the optimised length of the molecule, indicating partially bilayer SmA phase. Analysis of Raman marker bands of C–H in-plane bending of phenyl rings, C=C stretching of rings, C=N stretching and C=O stretching shows structural changes at molecular level at Cr → SmA phase transition and provides proper intermolecular interactions responsible for dimeric unit in partially bilayer SmA phase.     

Temperature-dependent Raman study of pure and silver nanoparticles dispersed N-(4-n-heptyloxybenzylidene)-4’-n-butylaniline (7O.4)

Temperature-dependent micro-Raman study of C-H in-plane bending mode of aromatic rings, C-N and C=N stretching of linking group (-C(H)=N) and C=C stretching of rings of pure and silver nanoparticles dispersed (0.5% and 1% by weight) Schiff’s base liquid crystal (LC) compound, N-(4-n-heptyloxybenzylidene)-4’-n-butylaniline (7O.4) in 500–2250 cm^?1 region has been done. The change in Raman spectral parameters (peak position and linewidth) at crystal–smecticG (K–smG) and smecticG–smecticC (smG–smC) gives the evidence of charge shift at phase transition which is associated with changes in orientation and vibrational freedom of the molecules. The peak position of the Raman bands shows blue shift for 0.5 wt% dispersed sample, whereas it shows red shift for 1 wt% dispersed sample. The blue and red shifts of the Raman bands indicate an increase and decrease in the charge density, respectively. The optimised structure and theoretical room temperature Raman spectra of 7O.4 were obtained using density functional theory. The vibrational assignment using potential energy distribution is reported using vibrational energy distribution analysis (VEDA).     

Infrared vacuum-ultraviolet laser pulsed field ionization-photoelectron study of CH3Br+ (X(2)E(3/2))

By preparing methyl bromide (CH3Br) in selected rotational levels of the CH3Br(X(1)A1; v1 = 1) state with infrared (IR) laser excitation prior to vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) laser pulsed field ionization-photoelectron (PFI-PE) measurements, we have observed rotationally resolved photoionization transitions to the CH3Br(+)(X(2)E(3/2); v1(+) = 1) state, where v1 and v1(+) are the symmetric C-H stretching vibrational mode for the neutral and cation, respectively. The VUV-PFI-PE origin band for CH3Br(+)(X(2)E(3/2)) has also been measured. The simulation of these IR-VUV-PFI-PE and VUV-PFI-PE spectra have allowed the determination of the v1(+) vibrational frequency (2901.8 +/- 0.5 cm(-1)) and the ionization energies of the origin band (85 028.3 +/- 0.5 cm(-1)) and the v1(+) = 1 <-- v1 = 1 band (84 957.9 +/- 0.5 cm(-1)).     

Pressure dependence of the Davydov splitting in tetracene single crystals

The reflection spectrum of the OO component of the first singlet transition of tetracene single crystal has been measured as a function of pressure in the range 1 atm–6.5 kbar. A discontinuous change in the Davydov splitting occurs near 3 kbar confirming the existence of a pressure-induced first order phase transition discovered recently by measurements of the magnetic field anisotropy in the single crystal tetracene fluorescence. The pressure-induced spectral red-shifts are larger in the low-pressure (LP) phase than those in the high-pressure (HP) crystal structure. The Davydov splitting of the OO band however increases with increasing pressure at a larger rate of 57 cm^?1/kbar for the HP phase as compared with 46 cm^?1/kbar for the LP phase.     

Hydration changes of poly(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate) during thermosensitive phase separation in water

Hydration changes of poly(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate) (PMoEoEMa) during thermosensitive phase separation in water have been investigated by infrared spectroscopy. The C=O stretching band can be separated into three components assigned to non-hydrated carbonyl groups and singly and doubly hydrogen-bonded carbonyl groups (1728, 1709, and 1685 cm-1, respectively). Relatively large parts of the carbonyl groups (50% in 30 wt % solution) do not form hydrogen bonds even below the transition temperature (Tp) probably because they possess crowded positions near the backbone. The fraction of hydrogen-bonding carbonyl groups decreased during phase separation by approximately 0.2. Among five nu(C-H) bands, the highest- and the lowest-frequency bands (nu(C-H)A and nu(C-H)E) exhibited relatively large red shifts of 8 and 11 cm(-1), respectively. DFT calculations indicate that the formation of a H-bond between the ether oxygen and water leads to blue shifts of nu(C-H) of adjacent alkyl groups and has a larger effect than a direct H-bond to the alkyl groups, namely, C-H...O H-bonds. The fraction of hydrogen-bonding methoxy oxygens estimated from the position of the nu(C-H)A is 1 at Tp. This result indicates that the methoxy oxygens and the carbonyl are more favorably hydrated than the other at Tp, respectively.     

Raman and FTIR spectra of [Cu(H2O)6](BrO3)2 and [Al(H2O)6](BrO3)3 x 3H2O

Raman and FTIR spectra of [Cu(H2O)6](BrO3)2 and [Al(H2O)6](BrO3)3 x 3H2O are recorded and analyzed. The observed bands are assigned on the basis of BrO3- and H2O vibrations. Additional bands obtained in the region of v3 and v1 modes in [Cu(H2O)6](BrO3)2 are due to the lifting of degeneracy of v3 modes, since the BrO3- ion occupies a site of lower symmetry. The appearance v1 mode of BrO3- anion at a lower wavenumber (771 cm(-1)) is attributed to the attachment of hydrogen to the BrO3- anion. The presence of three inequivalent bromate groups in the [Al(H2O)6](BrO3)3 x 3H2O structure is confirmed. The lifting of degeneracy of v4 mode indicates that the symmetry of BrO3- anion is lowered in the above crystal from C3v to C1. The appearance of additional bands in the stretching and bonding mode regions of water indicates the presence of hydrogen bonds of different strengths in both the crystals. Temperature dependent Raman spectra of single crystal [Cu(H2O)6](BrO3)2 are recorded in the range 77-523 K for various temperatures. A small structural rearrangement takes place in BrO3- ion in the crystal at 391 K. Hydrogen bounds in the crystal are rearranging themselves leading to the loss of one water molecule at 485 K. This is preceded by the reorientation of BrO3- ions causing a phase transition at 447 K. Changes in intensities and wavenumbers of the bands and the narrowing down of the bands at 77 K are attributed to the settling down of protons into ordered positions in the crystal.     

Synthesis,characterisation, mesomorphic investigation and temperature-dependent Raman study of a novel calamitic liquid crystal: methyl 4-(4′-n-alkoxybenzylideneamino)benzoate

A new series of Schiff base calamitic liquid crystal; methyl 4-(4′-n-alkoxybenzylideneamino)benzoate (MABAB), H_2n+1C _n OC₆H₄C(H)=NC₆H₄COOCH₃ (n = 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16) has been synthesised and characterised by elemental analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ¹H and ¹³C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The mesomorphic properties of these compounds were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarising optical microscopy (POM). All members of the series exhibit enantiotropic smectic A (SmA) mesophase. Temperature-dependent micro-Raman study of one of the members, MABAB-10 has been employed to identify phase transitions and the molecular rearrangement therein. Analysis of Raman marker bands; C–H in-plane bending, C–C stretching of phenyl rings and –C(H)=N– linking group of core confirms the transitions clearly as observed through DSC and POM. An in situ Raman measurement of C–H in-plane bending mode has also been performed to visualise the molecular changes more clearly. The Raman study gives an evidence of induced co-planarity of rings at Cr→SmA phase transition. The density functional theoretical (DFT) optimisation of monomer, dimer and rotational conformer of MABAB-10 also support the induced co-planarity at Cr→SmA phase transition.     

Vibrational spectroscopy at high pressure of the permanganate anion trapped in potassium bromide and potassium perchlorate matrices

The effect of high pressure on the resonance Raman spectra of the permanganate ion isolated in potassium bromide and potassium perchlorate matrices has been investigated at room temperature for pressures up to 50 kbar. The pressure dependences of the anharmonicity constants and harmonic frequencies have been determined from the overtones of the totally symmetric nu1(A1) mode of the permanganate ion. For both matrices, as the pressure increases, the anharmonicity constants decrease slightly, while the harmonic frequencies increase steadily. The effect of the potassium bromide phase transition from a face-centered to a body-centered structure was observed on the permanganate ion Raman spectrum at approximately 24 kbar. The perchlorate matrix does not exhibit any phase transition under the experimental conditions used in this study.