Isotopic substitution of a hydrogen bond: A near infrared study of the intramolecular states in (DF)2

Breakthrough Potential in Near-Infrared Spectroscopy: Spectra Simulation. A Review of Recent Developments

Near-infrared (12,500–4,000 cm⁻¹; 800–2,500 nm) spectroscopy is the hallmark for one of the most rapidly advancing analytical techniques over the last few decades. Although it is mainly recognized as an analytical tool, near-infrared spectroscopy has also contributed significantly to physical chemistry, e.g., by delivering invaluable data on the anharmonic nature of molecular vibrations or peculiarities of intermolecular interactions. In all these contexts, a major barrier in the form of an intrinsic complexity of near-infrared spectra has been encountered. A large number of overlapping vibrational contributions influenced by anharmonic effects create complex patterns of spectral dependencies, in many cases hindering our comprehension of near-infrared spectra. Quantum mechanical calculations commonly serve as a major support to infrared and Raman studies; conversely, near-infrared spectroscopy has long been hindered in this regard due to practical limitations. Advances in anharmonic theories in hyphenation with ever-growing computer technology have enabled feasible theoretical near-infrared spectroscopy in recent times. Accordingly, a growing number of quantum mechanical investigations aimed at near-infrared region has been witnessed. The present review article summarizes these most recent accomplishments in the emerging field. Applications of generalized approaches, such as vibrational self-consistent field and vibrational second order perturbation theories as well as their derivatives, and dense grid-based studies of vibrational potential, are overviewed. Basic and applied studies are discussed, with special attention paid to the ones which aim at improving analytical spectroscopy. A remarkable potential arises from the growing applicability of anharmonic computations to solving the problems which arise in both basic and analytical near-infrared spectroscopy. This review highlights an increased value of quantum mechanical calculations to near-infrared spectroscopy in relation to other kinds of vibrational spectroscopy.

Influence of a weak hydrogen bond on vibrational coherence probed by photon echoes in DCl dimer trapped in solid nitrogen

The dynamics in the ground electronic state of the two intramolecular D-Cl stretching modes of (DCl)2 in nitrogen solid has been probed by degenerate four wave mixing experiments. Accumulated photon echoes on the "free" nu1 and "bonded" nu2 modes have been performed by means of the free electron laser of Orsay (CLIO). The analysis of the time-resolved signals provides information on the various processes responsible for the loss of vibrational coherence, in particular intra- and intermolecular vibrational energy transfer and pure dephasing. The influence of the weak hydrogen bond is clearly observed on the coherence times of the two stretching modes. Whatever the temperature, the homogeneous width of nu2 lines is almost twice that of nu1 lines. Contrary to the case of isolated DCl trapped in solid nitrogen, no obvious effect of the nitrogen lattice can be extracted from the temperature dependence of the coherence times.