Solvent-induced infrared frequency shifts in aromatic nitriles are quantitatively described by the vibrational Stark effect.

ABSTRACT: The physical properties of solvents strongly affect the spectra of dissolved solutes, and this phenomenon can be exploited to gain insight into the solvent-solute interaction. The large solvatochromic shifts observed for many dye molecules in polar solvents are due to variations in the solvent reaction field, and these shifts are widely used to estimate the change in the dye's dipole moment upon photoexcitation, which is typically on the order of ∼1-10 D. In contrast, the change in dipole moment for vibrational transitions is approximately 2 orders of magnitude smaller. Nonetheless, vibrational chromophores display significant solvatochromism, and the relative contributions of specific chemical interactions and electrostatic interactions are debated, complicating the interpretation of vibr

SUBMITTER: Levinson NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3404211 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature