FTIR, Raman and polarimetric studies of organic compounds in solution and on alumina

An attempt was made to follow the kinetics of the hydrolysis of benzonitrile on unactivated alumina. Calibration curves were constructed using DRIFTS data. An attempt was also made to follow the reaction in situ by Raman spectroscopy. Poor calibration curves were obtained, however, with some modification in the experimental protocol it should be possible to follow the kinetics of the hydrolysis.

The complexation of the Lewis acid, Li⁺, to crotonaldehyde, benzonitrile and camphor was studied using spectroscopic (FTIR) and polarimetric techniques. Using band resolution, it was found that within certain concentration ranges that the complexation of the Lewis acid to the Lewis base gives rise to 1:1 complexes. The equilibrium constants for the complexation to each substrate were calculated. The experimental IR shifts of the crotonaldehyde and benzonitrile complexes were compared to those obtained using MNDO calculations.

The effect of thirteen solvents on the optical rotatory power of (1R)(+) camphor were studied. These effects were compared to several solvent parameters. A linear relationship was found to exist between the amount of camphor used and the extent of the optical rotation. The magnitude of the slopes of the Rotation vs Camphor (g) curves were found to be dependent on the nature of the solvent. No simple correlation was found to exist between the degree of optical rotation and the solvent parameters.