Spectrum 1: o-Nitrobenzaldehyde (R5, C4)

Frequency Assignment
3065-3103 n(CH, sp2)
2840 n(CHO, aldehyde)
1699

n(C=O, conj. aldehyde)
1346, 1532

d(NO2, stretch)
1532, 1608 n(C=C, aromatic)

Spectrum 2: Crotonic anhydride (R5, C2)

Frequency Assignment
3028-2059 n(CH, sp2)
2854-2980 n(CH, sp3)
1738, 1795

n(C=O, conj. anhydride)
1652

n(C=C, alkene)
1378, 1452

d(CH2, CH3, bend)
1083, 1154

n(COC, anhydride)
960

oop, trans-alkene

Spectrum 3: Cyclohexylacetic acid (R1, C1)

Frequency Assignment
2400-3400 n(OH, carboxylic acid)
2867-2927 n(CH, sp3)
1707

n(C=O, carboxylic acid)
1450

d(CH2, bend)
1297 n(CO, acid)

Spectrum 4: Valeronitrile (R3, C3)

Frequency Assignment
2877-2964 n(CH, sp3)
2247

n(C=N, nitrile)
1383, 1458

d(CH2, CH3, bend)

Spectrum 5: 2-Ethylhexyl acetate (R2, C2)

Frequency Assignment
2863-2964 n(CH, sp3)
1745

n(C=O, ester)
1384, 1455

d(CH2, CH3, bend)
1038, 1241

n(COC, ester)

Spectrum 6: N-Methylbutylamine (R4, C1)

Frequency Assignment
3292 n(NH, sec. amine)
2863, 2960 n(CH, sp3)
1378, 1453

d(CH2, CH3, bend)
1080

n(CN, sp3)

Spectrum 7: trans 3-hexene (R4, C4)

Frequency Assignment
3028 n(CH, sp2)
2852-2965 n(CH, sp3)
not observed!

n(C=C, alkene)
1375-1462

d(CH2, CH3, bend)
965

oop, trans alkene

Spectrum 8: 2-Methyl-1-butanol (R3, C1)

Frequency Assignment
3100-3600 n(OH, phenol)
2877-2962 n(CH, sp3)
1380, 1464

d(CH2, CH3, bend)
1047 n(C-OH, alcohol)

Spectrum 9: Methylcyclopentane (R1, C4)

Frequency Assignment
2870-2964 n(CH, sp3)
1375, 1452 d(CH2, CH3, bend)

Spectrum 10: 1-Acetylcyclohexene (R2, C4)

Frequency Assignment
3002, 3046 n(CH, sp2)
2843-2935 n(CH, sp3)
1667 n(C=O, conj. ketone)
1640

n(C=C, alkene)
1384, 1449 d(CH2, CH3, bend)


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 37 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. 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.

6. 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. There is also a difference between amine and amides in terms of width and intensity of the peaks.

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.

9. Carbon-carbon double or triple bond modes are not observed if the substitution is symmetric like in example #7.