Low-temperature infrared study of ammonium carbamate formation

Abstract

Two types of infrared spectra observed during the formation of ammonium carbamate [Formula: see text] from the reaction of NH3 and CO2 in the solid state at low temperatures have been re-examined. These spectra had been assigned previously to amorphous and crystalline ammonium carbamate but the present data suggest their origins to be [Formula: see text] and its unstable precursor (NH3)2CO2 in which CO2 is bent. Spectra of amorphous and crystalline ammonium carbamate have been distinguished by comparing the systems NH3/CO2 and NH3/CO2/H2O. Hydrogen ion transfer in the diammoniates occurred at about −80 °C for NH3/CO2 and about −40 °C for ND3/CO2.