Infrared spectroscopic evidence for Π back-bonding in molecular adducts of pyridine

The observation of the dependence of the in-phase, out-of-plane CH bending on π electron density in aromatics made by Kross was applied to pyridine molecular complexes. Comparison of systems with and without possible back bonding and the existence of a series resembling the Irving-Williams' series, assert the π back bonding to be responsible for the behaviour of the pyridine “umbrella” band.