Spectrum 1: 2,4-Dimethyl-1-hexene (R2, C1)

Frequency Assignment
3076 n(CH, sp2)
2857-2965 n(CH, sp3)
1651 n(C=C, alkene)
1377, 1452

d(CH2, CH3, bend)

888 oop, 1,1-disubst. alkene

Spectrum 2: Cyclohexylpropionate (R5, C4)

Frequency Assignment
3453 C=O-overtone
2860-2980 n(CH, sp3)
1733 n(C=O, ester, sat.)
1378, 1453

d(CH2, CH3, bend)

1040, 1186 n(C-O, ester)

Spectrum 3: 4-Methyl-1-pentyne (R3, C3)

Frequency Assignment
3311 n(CH, sp, alkyne)
2836-2961 n(CH, sp3)
2119 n(C=C, alkyne)
1387, 1454

d(CH2, CH3, bend)

631 d(CH, alkyne)

Spectrum 4: o-ethylnitrobenzene (R3, C2)

Frequency Assignment
3069 n(CH, sp2)
2878-2976 n(CH, sp3)
1611 n(C=C, aromatic)
1350, 1525 n(NO2)
746 oop, ortho subst.

Spectrum 5: Isovaleraldehyde (R1, C2)

Frequency Assignment
3431 C=O-overtone
2875-2960 n(CH, sp3)
2718, 2822 n(CHO, aldehyde)
1728 n(C=O, aldehyde)
1378, 1458

d(CH2, CH3, bend)

Spectrum 6: 2-Naphthylamine (R3, C4)

Frequency Assignment
3483, 3396 n(NH2, amine)
3027-3056 n(CH, sp2)
1633 d(NH2, scissoring)
1518, 1611

n(C=C, aromatic)

Spectrum 7: Hexanoyl chloride (R5, C1)

Frequency Assignment
3580 C=O-overtone
2864-2961 n(CH, sp3)
1800 n(C=O, acid chloride)
1381, 1458

d(CH2, CH3, bend)

730 n(C-Cl, acid chloride)

Spectrum 8: 1-Ethyladamantane (R1, C4)

Frequency Assignment
2847-2964 n(CH, sp3)
1378, 1451 d(CH2, CH3, bend)

Spectrum 9: p-Propoxybenzoic acid (R3, C1)

Frequency Assignment
2500-3400 n(OH, acid)
2827-2966 n(CH, sp3)
1691 n(C=O, acid, conj.)
1516, 1613 n(C=C, aromatic)
1288, 1251, 1170 d(COC, ether, acid)
850 oop, para-subst.

Spectrum 10: Xanthone (R4, C3)

Frequency Assignment
3082 n(CH, sp2)
1683 n(C=O, ketone)
1481, 1618 n(C=C, aromatic)
759 oop, ortho-subst.


Note: The designation behind the name is the row and column number the molecule is located in the table.

General comments:

1. The average grade for the assignment is 35.5 points (out of 40). If you scored around or less than 30 points, I would advise you to see your TA or the instructor to seek some help.

2. One of the most common mistakes was not to analyze the
n(C-H) region correctly to determine what type of compound (alkane, alkene, aromatic, or mixed) is present. Just writing "sp3" or "C-H" is not sufficient here.

3. The
n(OH) peaks for carboxylic acids and alcohols look very different and can be easily identified by looking at them (see reader). However, in some cases intramolecular hydrogen bonding broadens and shifts (to lower wavenumbers) the peak of an alcohol.

4. Carbonyl peaks can be shifted to lower wavenumbers when the carbonyl function is conjugated to another
p-system e.g. double bond or aromatic ring.

5. Nitro groups show two intense peaks in the IR spectrum: one between 1300-1400 cm-1 for the symmetric stretching mode, the other one between 1500-1600 cm-1 for the asymmetric stretching mode.

6. The presence of two peaks in the carbonyl range (1630-1850 cm-1) indicates either the presence of an "anhydride type" of function or two different carbonyl functions.

7. Peaks due to amine, alkyne or alcohol functions are very different in appearance. Alkyne peaks (CH stretch) are very sharp and fairly intense due to an "isolated" motion. Amine peaks are usually a little broader and less intense. The presence of two peaks suggests a primary amine (NH2) while secondary amines show only one peak in this range. Alcohols (OH-stretch) usually show a rounded peak in this area.

8. If the spectrum shows a lot of peaks (independent from their size), the molecule has to have a lot of atoms and also cannot be very symmetric.