Vibrational spectra and structure of some oxalic acid/substituted pyridine (methyl-, amino-, and dihalogeno-) complexes: Hydrogen bond features

The Raman and infrared spectra of some polycrystalline substituted pyridine/oxalic acid complexes have been investigated and assignments in terms of group frequencies are given. Various hydrogen bonds (NH?O, OH?O, OH?N) are distinguished and crystal structures are proposed. For the stronger bases (methyl- or aminopyridines with pk_a ≈ 6) proton transfer occurs. The 1/1 complex contains infinite chains of hydrogen oxalate ions linked by strong OH?O hydrogen bonds with vOH between 2000 and 800 cm⁻¹. R_OH?O distances are 2.47–2.62 Å). The substituted pyridinium cations are linked to the chain backbone by medium NH?O hydrogen bonds with NH?O lengths of 2.71–2.81 Å. The 3,5-dichloropyridine forms a 2/1 adduct without proton transfer, in accordance with its pk_a (0.6), and strong OH?N hydrogen bonds occur (vOH about 2000 cm⁻¹ and ). Finally, the 2,6-dihalogenopyridine derivatives do not form complex with oxalic acid, presumably because of steric hindrance.