Spectrum 1: Ethyl phenylglyoxylate

Frequency Assignment
3067 n(CH, sp2)
2906-2985 n(CH, sp3)
1737 n(C=O, ester)
1690 n(C=O, ketone)
1597, 1493 n(C=C, aromatic)
1452, 1370 d (CH2, CH3, bend)
1017, 1201 n(C-O, ester)
687, 749 oop, mono-subst. arene

Spectrum 2: m-Methoxycinnamic acid

Frequency Assignment
2500-3500 n(OH, acid)
1682 n(C=O, conjugated)
1633 n(C=C, alkene)
1608, 1491 n(C=C, aromatic)
1456, 1323 d(CH3, bend)
1281, 1061 n(C-O, ether)

Spectrum 3: p-Diacetylbenzene

Frequency Assignment
3100-3500 n(OH, enol)
3078, 3008 n(CH, sp2)
2980 n(CH, sp3)
1676 n(C=O, conjugated)
1504, ~1600 n(C=C, aromatic)
1427, 1359 d (CH3, bend)
837 oop, para-subst. arene

Spectrum 4: 1,2-Dihydronaphthalene

Frequency Assignment
3017, 3068 n(CH, sp2)
2859-2932 n(CH, sp3)
1484 n(C=C, aromatic)
1453 d (CH2, bend)
782, 746 oop, ortho-disubst. arene, cis-alkene

Spectrum 5: 1-Phenyl-1-butyne

Frequency Assignment
3021-3101 n(CH, sp2)
2846-2978 n(CH, sp3)
2237, 2208 n(C=C, alkyne)
1599, 1492 n(C=C, aromatic)
1442, 1376 d (CH2, CH3, bend)
692, 766 oop, mono-subst. arene

Spectrum 6: 2-Naphthylamine

Frequency Assignment
3483, 3396 n(NH2, primary amine)
3029, 3058 n(CH, sp2)
1633 d (NH2)
1602, 1518 n(C=C, aromatic)

Spectrum 7: Phenylacetonitrile

Frequency Assignment
3035, 3091 n(CH, sp2)
2921, 2963 n(CH, sp3)
2252 n(C=N, nitrile)
1603, 1498 n(C=C, aromatic)
1455 d (CH2, bend)
696, 735 oop, mono-subst. arene

Spectrum 8: p-Ethynylaniline

Frequency Assignment
3487, 3389 n(NH2, primary amine)
3260 n(CH, sp)
3037-3077 n(CH, sp2)
2100 n(C=C, alkyne)
1618 d (NH2, bend)
1618, 1518 n(C=C, aromatic)
830 oop, para-subst. arene

Spectrum 9: trans-2-Nonenal

Frequency Assignment
2859-2967 n(CH, sp3)
2730, 2811 n(CHO)
1694 n(C=O, conj. aldehyde)
1637 n(C=C, alkene)
1450, 1378 d (CH3, CH2, bend)
973 oop, trans alkene
725 (CH2)4 rocking

Spectrum 10: m-Nitrotoluene

Frequency Assignment
3032-3094 n(CH, sp2)
2867-2960 n(CH, sp3)
1588, 1482 n(C=C, aromatic)
1527, 1350 n(NO2)
672, 802, 882 oop, meta subst. arene


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 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.