Investigation of selective molecular interactions using two-dimensional Fourier transform IR spectroscopy

A novel method of studying molecular interactions is introduced. It is a method based on the framework of a two-dimensional (2D) infrared (IR) correlation spectroscopy technique with a new data pretreatment strategy. In this method, an additional external perturbation stimulates the system to cause some selective changes in the state, order, and surroundings of system constituents. The overall response of the stimulated system to the applied external perturbation leads to distinctive changes in the measured spectrum, and a series of perturbation-induced dynamic spectra are collected in a systematic manner. Such a set of dynamic spectra are then transformed into a set of 2D correlation spectra by cross-correlation analysis. Temperature was chosen as an external perturbation, and the molecular interaction between 4-aminopyridine (Apy) and methacrylic acid (MAA) was investigated by 2D IR correlation spectroscopy. Synchronous cross peaks exist between the stretching vibration of the C–O group of MAA at 1,298 and 1,202 cm⁻¹ and the C=N group of Apy at 1,531 cm⁻¹, and between the carbonyl group of MAA at 1,705 cm⁻¹ and the amino group of Apy at 3,382 and 3,212 cm⁻¹. The synchronous cross peaks are from orientation of MAA and Apy vibrations generated at the same time; the synchronization of microstructure movements in the molecules indicates that there exists strong interactions between MAA and Apy. According to 2D correlation rules, static electricity and hydrogen-bonding interactions exist between Apy and MAA. Such results were further verified by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The successful application demonstrates that 2D IR correlation spectroscopy may be a convenient and effective method in the study of molecular interactions.