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Article
Vibrational Frequencies and Intensities of H-Bonded Systems. 1:1 and 1:2 Complexes of NH3 and PH3 with HF
The Journal of Chemical Physics (1987)
  • I. J. Kurnig
  • M. M. Szczesniak
  • Steve Scheiner, Utah State University
Abstract

Frequencies and intensities are calculated by ab initio methods for all vibrational modes of the 1:1 H3X–HF and 1:2 H3X–HF–HF complexes (X=N,P). The HF stretching frequencies are subject to red shifts, roughly proportional to the strength of the H bond, and to manyfold increases in intensity. Although the intramolecular frequency shifts within the proton acceptors are relatively modest, the intensities of the NH3 stretches are magnified by several orders of magnitude as a result of H bonding (in contrast to PH3 which exhibits little sensitivity in this regard). The frequencies and intensities corresponding to bending of the H3X–HF H‐bond rise with increasing H‐bond strength while the properties of the other intermolecular modes appear somewhat anomalous at first sight. The intensity patterns are analyzed by means of atomic polar tensors which reveal that intensification of the proton donor stretch is chiefly due to increasing charge flux associated with H‐bond formation. The different behavior of the N–H and P–H stretching intensities is attributed to the opposite sign of the hydrogen atomic charges in the two molecules. As a general rule, low intensities can be expected for intermolecular modes with the exception of those which involve motions of hydrogens that appreciably alter the magnitude or direction of a subunit’s dipole moment.

Keywords
  • vibrational,
  • frequencies,
  • intensities,
  • hydrogen,
  • bonded,
  • systems,
  • complexes,
  • NH3,
  • PH3,
  • HF
Disciplines
Publication Date
January 1, 1987
Publisher Statement

Originally published by American Institute of Physics in the Journal of Chemical Physics.

Publisher's PDF can be accessed through the remote link.

Citation Information
Vibrational frequencies and intensities of H-bonded systems. 1:1 and 1:2 complexes of NH[sub 3] and PH[sub 3] with HF Ingrid J. Kurnig, M. M. Szczesniak, and Steve Scheiner, J. Chem. Phys. 87, 2214 (1987), DOI:10.1063/1.453148