Infrared Spectroscopic Study of the Solvation of Tetramethylurea in Protic + Aprotic Mixed Solvents

The infrared spectra of tetramethylurea have been measured in mixtures of dimethylsulfoxide or acetonitrile with D₂O or deuterated methanol (CH₃OD). Marked solvatochroism is observed for bands associated with the C=O and C–N stretches of tetramethylurea, with the former moving to lower wavenumber, and the latter to higher, as the concentration of the protic component is increased. The C=O band shows four distinct absorbances, which are attributed to non-, mono, di-, and trihydrogen bonded tetramethylurea. The relative populations of the different hydrogen bonded species were determined from analyses of the C=O band shapes. It is found that the variations in the populations of the different hydrogen bonded species can be accounted for by a simple mass action treatment.