Two-dimensional near-infrared correlation spectroscopy studies of polymer blends I: Composition-dependent spectral variations of blends of atactic polystyrene and poly[2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether]

Generalized two-dimensional (2D) near-infrared (NIR) correlation spectroscopy has been applied to study the conformational changes and molecular interactions in blends of atactic polystyrene (PS) and poly[2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether] (PPE). NIR diffuse reflectance spectra have been measured for PS, PPE and their blends of different compositions, i.e., PS/PPE=90/10, 70/30, 50/50, 30/70, 10/90. The 2D synchronous correlation analysis of these composition-dependent NIR spectral variations separates the bands of PS from those of PPE. The 2D asynchronous analysis identifies spectral features indicative of the conformational changes or the specific interaction of PS and PPE. It can also detect “blend bands” whose origin is attributed to the formation of the polymer blends. Two “blend bands” of PS are identified at 6887 and 4836 cm⁻¹, and three “blend bands” of PPE are observed at 5752, 5679 and 4647 cm⁻¹. These “blend bands” are due to vibrations of the aromatic rings of PS or PPE and of the CH₃ of PPE. Thus, not only the aromatic rings of PS and PPE but also the CH3 groups of PPE play important roles in the formation of the blends.     

Conformational characteristics of stereoregular PMMA and of the stereocomplex: new insights from FTIR measurements

Isotactic (i) and syndiotactic (s) PMMA polymers differ markedly in the physical properties. The fact that these physically unlike macromolecules strongly attract each other with the resultant formation of stereocomplexes is indeed remarkable. Although stereoregular PMMAs and the stereocomplex have been studied over decades, their conformational characteristics are yet a matter of controversy. We performed variable-temperature FTIR measurements on i-PMMA and s-PMMA, followed by a detailed analysis of the temperature dependence of integrated band intensities for C-O stretching modes in the region 1050-1300 cm⁻¹ and achieved, for the first time, the unambiguous conformational assignment for the C-O bands. This enabled reliable IR spectroscopic determination of conformational energies for the backbone and for the ester group. Besides, a comparative analysis of the C-O band intensities in the FTIR spectra of single-component and stereocomplex PMMA films, based on the established band assignments, revealed new features in the structure of the stereocomplex.     

IR spectra of long-chain α,ω-alkanediols: 1,22-docosanediol and 1,44-tetratetracontanediol

The IR absorption spectra of α,ω-alkanediols with different chain lengths, HO(CH₂)₂₂OH and HO(CH₂)₄₄OH, in the spectral range of 400–5000 cm^?1 are analyzed. The assignment of numerous absorption bands to vibration modes in short methylene sequences and terminal hydroxyl groups is suggested. The splitting of IR absorption bands into doublets at 720–730 cm^?1 (rocking vibrations of CH₂ groups) and 1463–1473 cm^?1 (bending vibrations of CH₂ groups) testifies that the crystal unit subcells in the lamellae of alkanediols are orthorhombic with parameters typical of normal hydrocarbons. The specific features of absorption bands due to O-H stretching and C-O-H bending vibrations have been analyzed. These bands appear during formation of lengthy associates from hydrogen bonds formed by hydroxyl groups on the surface of elementary lamellae. A sharp increase in the intensity of the absorption bands in progression of C-C stretching and CH₂ wagging vibrations due to the anharmonic Fermi resonance with the stretching vibrations of C-O groups in the terminal hydroxyl groups has been detected.     

Effect of surface coverage on the conformation and mobility of C18-modified silica gels

C18-modified silica gels with surface coverages of 2 to 8.2 micromol m(-2), were prepared by different synthetic pathways and characterized by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and chromatographic measurements. The effects of temperature and bonding density on the conformational order of C18-modified silica gels were studied in detail by FTIR spectroscopy. The silane functionality and degree of cross-linking of silane ligands on the silica surface were evaluated by 29Si cross-polarization magic-angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR and the structural order and mobility of the alkyl chains were investigated by 13C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy. CH2 symmetric and anti-symmetric stretching bands and CH2 wagging bands were used as IR probes to monitor the conformational order and flexibility of the alkyl chains in the C18 phases. Qualitative information about the conformational order was obtained from frequency shifts of the CH2 symmetric and anti-symmetric stretching bands. The relative amounts of kink/gauche-trans-gauche, double-gauche, and end-gauche conformers in the alkyl chains were determined by analysis of CH2 wagging bands. These results indicate that surface coverage plays a dominant role in the conformational order of C18-modified silica gels. The FTIR and NMR data are discussed in the context of the chromatographic shape-selectivity differences.     

Characterization of fungal degraded lime wood by FT-IR and 2D IR correlation spectroscopy

The action of soft-rot fungus Chaetomium globosum has been studied. The decayed lime wood samples were observed for different periods of exposure. The degree of decay was determined by weight loss which was of 50.4% after 133 days. The samples were analyzed by FT-IR and 2D IR correlation spectroscopy.The intensity bands assigned to different vibrations from cellulose and hemicelluloses show a decrease, while the intensities of the bands assigned to C–O vibrations due to the formation of oxidized structures increase. At the same time, the intensity of the band assigned to C–O in metoxyl groups from lignin shows a decrease with increasing exposure time. The differences between reference and decayed wood spectra were examined in detail using 2D correlation spectroscopy and the second derivative analysis for two exposure time periods — of 0–70 days and 70–133 days. The formation of reactive species due to oxidation reactions induced by enzymes and the demethoxylation of the lignin structure was evidenced.     

Epoxy resins and epoxy blends studied by near infra-red spectroscopy

The cure and the final network of epoxy resins have been investigated by numerous techniques, nevertheless a clear understanding of this network structure has not yet been achieved. FTIR analysis of polymeric materials provides highly precise measurements that are widely interpretable in terms of chemical structure. Yet the high absorption of fundamental bands requires careful sample preparation to reduce the thickness of the sample or special reflection techniques are needed. Furthermore, the occurrence of overlapping bands for epoxy resin (N-H and O-H vibrations in the 3000 cm⁻¹ region) renders the quantitative analysis in the region mid IR particularly difficult. However, the overtone and combination bands are 10–100 times weaker than the fundamental ones and are observed in near infrared (NIR) region. Longer pathlengths than Mid IR ones can be used allowing transmission analysis of thick samples (1-20 mm) without special preparation. NIR absorption bands have different intensities depending on the anharmonicity of vibrations. The strongest absorption bands are due to protons connected to carbon, nitrogen, oxygen. Hydrogen bonding due to inter- and intramolecular interactions can cause band broadening, peak position shifts and intensity variations. NIR spectroscopy is therefore a useful technique to investigate polymeric materials and was used to study the cure reactions of various epoxy resins cured with amine hardener. Using different NIR techniques (reflectance, transmission and microscopy) we will briefly present some results concerning hydrogen bonding between epoxy and amine hardener before curing, epoxy resins, glass/epoxy composites and epoxy/PES (polyethersulfone) blends.     

Phase transitions,conformational lability,and intermolecular interactions in alkoxycyanobiphenyls

Vibrational spectroscopy methods (IR absorption, Raman scattering, calculations) were used to study changes in molecular structures of alkoxycyanobiphenyls during phase transitions. The spectra were measured in the 33–3500 cm⁻¹ region at temperatures of 100–450 K. The temperature dependences of the IR bands that correspond to the noncharacteristic vibrations of molecular fragments between the phenyl rings and the alkyl radicals point to the conformational polymorphism of these molecules. An analysis of the Raman bands corresponding to the characteristic vibrations of the C−H bonds of alkyl radicals [q(CH)], the C−H and C−C bonds of phenyl rings [q(CH) and Q(CC)], and the CN bonds of the cyano groups [Q(CN)] suggests significant intermolecular interactions. The conformational lability and intermolecular interactions are associated with differences in molecular packing in the substances of this homologous series. Saratov State University. Institute of Solid State Physics, Rostov State University. Institute of Physics, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences. Samarkand State University. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 36, No. 5, pp. 814–822, September–October, 1995. Translated by I. Izvekova     

Polarised vibrational spectra of KH2PO3 single crystal

Polarised IR and Raman spectra for KH₂PO₃ single crystal samples were measured at room temperature. Additionally, the IR spectra for the Xb(Z) sample were also measured at low temperatures (300–14 K). The spectra are discussed on the basis of oriented gas model and group theory. The stretching νOH vibrations of the hydrogen bonds with the OO distances of 2.547 and 2.529 Å give characteristic broad ABC-type bands in the IR (polarised parallel to the X and to the b(Z) directions) and Raman (xx, xz and yx) spectra. The Davydov-type (correlation field or factor group) splitting is not observed for the νOH modes. The presence of two independent hydrogen bonds in the crystal is manifested by splitting of the C band into two (C′, C″) components and by the different frequencies of the out-of-plane bending γOH vibrations. The in-plane bending modes δOH are strongly mixed/coupled with the stretching vibrations of the PO₃ groups.

The C bands (C′ and C″) change into quite sharp bands on lowering of the temperature. Various simplified models for internal vibrations of the phosphite anions are applied for finding a correlation between the crystal structure and polarised vibrational spectra. The stretching vibrations of the νPH groups manifest their unequivalence in two symmetry-independent hydrogenphosphite anions.     

NMR and vibrational spectroscopic study of the order and mobility in polycarbonate and polycarbonate — poly(ethylene oxide) blends

Time dependence of the gel formation in toluene solutions of polycarbonate (PC) was investigated by two-dimensional Fourier-transform infrared (2D FT-IR) correlation spectroscopy. The 2D correlation approach reveals that there are at least three bands in the C=O stretching region. The intensity increase of the band at 1771 cm⁻¹ occurs later compared with the onset of the intensity changes of the bands at 1778 and 1765 cm⁻¹ corresponding to amorphous and crystalline-like domains, respectively. The band at 1771 cm⁻¹ is assigned to the chain conformations occurring in the partial-order regions accompanying crystalline-like domains. Splitting of the signals of aromatic carbons in the solid-state ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectra of semicrystalline PC and PC-PEO blends indicates restricted mobility resulting from the fixed ordering due to partial crystallinity of PC itself and from blending of PC with PEO. The decreasing mobility of PC with the increasing content of highly mobile PEO in the blends was proved by the dipolar dephasing rates obtained in the ¹H-¹H CRAMPS (combined rotation and multi-pulse spectroscopy) NMR experiments.     

Spectral,thermal, and electrical properties of poly(o- and m-toluidine)-polystyrene blends prepared by emulsion pathway

Conducting poly(o-toluidine) (POT) and poly(m-toluidine) (PMT) blends containing 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90 % wt/wt of polystyrene (PSt) were prepared by employing a two-step emulsion pathway. The bands characteristic of both polystyrene and POT/PMT are present in the IR spectra of POT–PSt and PMT–PSt blends. The UV-visible spectra of POT–PSt and PMT–PSt blends exhibit two bands around 313 and 610 nm, confirming that some amount of POT/PMT base is present in the blends. The EPR parameters such as line width and spin concentration reveal the presence of POT/PMT salt in the respective blends. The TGA, DTA, and DSC results suggest a higher thermal stability for the POT and PMT blends than that for the respective salts. The conductivity values of POT(70)–PSt(30) and POT(90)–PSt(10) blends are almost the same (1.1 × 10⁻² and 1.3 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹, respectively) and these values are very close to that of pure POT salt, suggesting that POT can be blended with up to 30% wt/wt of PSt to improve its mechanical properties without a significant drop in its conductivity. The conductivity values of PMT–PSt blends are lower than those of the corresponding POT–PSt blends by two to three orders of magnitude, indicating that POT is a better system than PMT to prepare blends by this method. The dielectric constant and tan δ values of the blends increase with the amount POT/PMT and are greater than that of polystyrene. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2291–2299, 1998     

The origin of stark splitting in the initial photoproduct state of MbCO

Ligand migration and binding in heme proteins have been measured by X-ray diffraction and time-resolved spectroscopy of photoproduct intermediates. In myoglobin (Mb), internal cavities serve as docking sites for carbon monoxide (CO) ligands. In these sites, the CO ligands display characteristic infrared (IR) stretching bands due to interactions with the local electrical field. In the primary docking site, a CO can reside in two opposite orientations, characterized by a doublet of infrared bands, B1 at approximately 2130 and B2 at approximately 2120 cm-1. To assign these bands to the specific orientations, we have reexamined the effects of mutating His64 and Val68 on the infrared stretching bands associated with the B1 and B2 photoproduct states. Wild-type, H64L, V68F, and H64L-V68F MbCO were selected for experimental and theoretical analyses. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to interpret the effects of the electrostatic environment on the B state bands. The imidazole side chain of His64 appears to be the primary cause of the observed Stark splitting. The high-frequency B1 band is assigned to the CO orientation in which the carbon (white atom) is directed toward the heme iron and the Nepsilon-H proton of His64. At low temperatures, CO molecules in the opposite orientational conformer, B2 with the O atom (red) toward His64, first rotate by 180 degrees into the more stable B1 state and then rebind.     

IR spectra and structure of 2-aryl-3-hydroxypyridines

The IR spectra of methyl, chloro, and phenyl derivatives of 3-hydroxypyridines in CCl₄ solutions and in the crystalline state were studied. A comparison of the frequencies, half widths, and integral intensities of the bands of the stretching vibrations of the hydroxyl groups in the spectra of solutions of the 3-hydroxypyridine derivatives in CCl₄ with the characteristic OH bands in the spectra of phenols demonstrates that 3-hydroxypyridines exist practically completely in the hydroxy form in dilute CCl₄ solutions. The shift in the OH bands in the spectra of 2-phenyl-3-hydroxypyridine derivatives indicates that the OH group forms a -hydrogen bond with the phenyl ring. The presence also of a band of a free OH group is evidence for the existence of s-cis and s-trans conformers relative to the C-O bond.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 187–190, February, 1972.     

Model of silicooxygen ring vibrations

In order to assign the bands in the IR spectra of silicates to the appropriate normal vibrations, a vibrational model has been proposed. A complex silicooxygen ring is considered as a ‘unit cell' composed of the appropriate number of [SiO₄]⁴⁻ tetrahedra. According to this model, in the ring silicates spectra we have to observe bands due to internal vibrations of individual tetrahedra and bands corresponding exclusively to the ring structure. Change in the tetrahedra symmetry from T_d (ideal tetrahedron) to C_2v (tetrahedron in a ring) and then to the ring symmetry: D_3h, D_4h and D_6h (ideal rings) with respect to reducible representations makes it possible to differentiate between the bands due to ring structure (pseudo-lattice vibrations) and internal modes of tetrahedra. It has been established that in the case of all ideal rings there is only one IR active vibrational mode, namely the one symmetric with respect to the axis of the highest fold, i.e. A₂″ in the case of 3-membered rings and A_2u in the case of 4- and 6-membered rings. The model proposed has been verified for different membered ring silicates.     

Dehydration-induced changes in the vibrational states of dioptase Cu6Si6O18·6H2O

This paper reports on the results of temperature studies (20–880°C) of the IR absorption spectra of dioptase crystals in the range 50–4000 cm⁻¹. During the dehydration of dioptase the state of water changes as follows: (1) initial state, (2) intermediate state with damped external vibrations of H₂O, (3) isolated water molecules with new hydrogen bonds, (4) formation of hydroxyls. The bands of the external virations of H₂O (1) vanish in state (2) because of the formation of vacancies in the six-membered water rings. The frequencies of the translation vibrations of 6H₂O in initial dioptase are close to those in liquid water: 169–170 and 277–290 cm⁻¹. A factor-group analysis of the dioptase vibrations in the space group C _3i ² is performed. All IR active vibrations 23A_u+23E_u are described. The thirty five bands observed in the IR spectra are assigned. The dehydration-induced deformations of the silicate rings are determined from the shifts of the vibrational bands of Si₆O₁₈. Institute of Mineralogy and Petrography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 68–74, January–February, 1996. Translated by I. Izvekova     

Temperature effect on the surface phase transitions of monolayer films of C12E1 at air/water interface

The temperature-dependent conformational states of a monolayer film of ethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C₁₂E₁) at the air/water interface have been investigated using ellipsometry, surface tension, external reflection–absorption FTIR spectroscopy and two-dimensional infrared (2DIR) correlation analysis. The ellipticity coefficients and the entropy associated with C₁₂E₁ adsorption changed almost discontinuously at certain temperatures, which manifested the interfacial phase transitions. The phase transition and coexistence of two phases were further clarified using 2DIR correlation analysis with temperature perturbation. The asynchronous correlation maps revealed that both bands of asymmetric and symmetric C–H stretching vibration in one-dimensional IR were split into two components, which confirmed the coexistence of two phases at the interface.     

由对苯二甲酰胺二醇合成聚酯酰胺及其扩链反应的研究

以N,N′-二(2-羟乙基)对苯二甲酰胺与己二酸及丁二醇缩聚,合成了同时带有端羧基与端羟基的聚酯酰胺预聚体,研究了不同扩链剂的扩链反应,获得了特性黏度达1.05 dL/g的聚酯酰胺.对预聚体及扩链后聚合物进行了红外与核磁表征,研究了聚合物的结构,并对聚合物进行了DSC与TG分析.     

Ring‐banded spherulite surface structure of poly(ε‐caprolactone) in its miscible mixtures with poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile)

The surface structure of the ring‐banded spherulites in polymer blends PCL/SAN (90/10) was studied by optical microscopy, SEM, and TEM, respectively. It is interesting to find that the surface structure of the ring‐banded spherulites in polymer blends PCL/SAN (90/10) is made up of the convex bands. The landscape of the convex bands on the surface has been little emphasized before. Radial fibrils are arranged on the bands. Details of the radial fibrils on the bands can be observed by TEM. The landscape of the convex bands on the surface and twisting of lamellae in the convex bands for PCL/SAN blends may be useful to explain the formation mechanism of the ring banded spherulites in polymer blends or even in homopolymers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2682–2691, 1999     

Structural and conformational properties of fluoroformic acid anhydride, FC(O)OC(O)F

The conformational properties and geometric structures of fluoroformic acid anhydride, FC(O)OC(O)F, have been studied by vibrational spectroscopy, gas electron diffraction (GED), single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and quantum chemical calculations (HF, MP2, and B3LYP methods with 6-31G* and B3LYP/6-311+G* basis sets). Satellite bands in the IR matrix spectra, which increase in intensity when the matrix gas mixture is heated prior to deposition as a matrix, indicate the presence of two conformers at room temperature. According to the electron diffraction analysis, the prevailing conformer is of C(2) symmetry with both C=O bonds synperiplanar with respect to the opposite C-O bond ([sp, sp] conformer). The minor conformer [15(5)% from IR matrix and 6(11)% from GED] is predicted by quantum chemical calculations to possess an [sp, ac] structure. FC(O)OC(O)F crystallizes in the orthorhombic system in the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with a = 6.527(1) angstroms, b = 7.027(1) angstroms, and c = 16.191(1) angstroms and four formula units per unit cell. In the crystal, only the [sp, sp] conformer is present, and the structural parameters are very similar to those determined by GED.     

Polarised IR and Raman spectra of the gamma-glycine single crystal

Complete (full) set of the polarised IR and Raman spectra for the gamma-glycine single crystal at room temperature are presented. The polarised IR spectra were measured by the specular reflection method and the spectra of the imaginary parts of the refractive indices were computed by Kramers-Kronig transformation. The polarised properties of the bands are discussed with respect to the normal coordinate analysis (literature data) and diffraction crystal data (oriented gas model approximation). A very good agreement between the polarised properties of the bands and simple models of vibrations are observed for the stretching vibrations of the CH2 and COO- group. It is not the case for most of the deformation vibrations of the carboxylic group and of the skeleton. The polarization properties of the stretching vibrations of the NH3+ group are determined by their hydrogen bondings.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of 5-amino-3-methyl-4-isoxazolecarbohydrazide and its N-deuterated isotopologue

Both spectral and structural studies of 5-amino-3-methyl-4-isoxazolecarbohydrazide (HIX) were done and compared to calculated parameters using ab initio DFT methods. A detailed interpretation of the infrared and Raman spectra of title molecule is reported on the basis of the calculated potential energy distribution (PED). The conformational search for possible conformers and tautomers of title compound has been conducted and widely discussed. N-deuterated isotopologue of 5-amino-3-methyl-4-isoxazolecarbohydrazide (HIXD) was synthesized to eliminate disturbing frequencies in carbonyl region of IR and Raman. Besides, N-deutaration enabled the unambiguous assignment some bands to specific vibrations. Moreover, the stability of the 5-amino-3-methyl-4-isoxazolecarbohydrazide arising from hyper conjugative interactions has been studied using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis.