THE RAMAN SPECTRA OF DEUTERATED METHYL LAURATES AND RELATED COMPOUNDS

Abstract

The Raman spectra of methyl laurate and five derivatives selectively deuterated in the terminal methyl group, the α-methylene group, and the carbomethoxy group have been examined in the liquid phase. Raman spectra of n-dodecane and n-dodecane-1,12-d6have also been determined. The spectra are compared with the infrared spectra, which have been reported previously, and are analyzed in terms of current views on the vibrations of compounds containing polymethylene chains.Whereas the infrared spectra of the esters are dominated by absorption bands associated with the carbomethoxy group, this group has only a minor effect on the Raman spectrum; the implications of this in organic structural analysis are discussed.