Vibrational Spectra of the Four Lowest Nitroparaffins

Abstract

The infra-red spectra from 2 to 22μ of nitromethane, nitroethane, 1-nitropropane and 2-nitropropane have been obtained for both vapor and liquid phases. The Raman shifts have been measured for the liquids, and for nitromethane the polarizations of the bands have been determined. A satisfactory interpretation of the spectra has been obtained for nitromethane on the basis of assigned fundamental frequencies that agree with those proposed previously by Wells and Wilson, except for the B1 methyl rocking mode. The fundamental frequencies have not been determined for the other compounds, but the positions of the nitro group absorptions have been determined empirically.