CH stretching vibration of N-methylformamide as a sensitive probe of its complexation: infrared matrix isolation and computational study

Abstract

The complexes between trans-N-methylformamide (t-NMF) and Ar, N₂, CO, H₂O have been studied by infrared matrix isolation spectroscopy and/or ab initio calculations. The infrared spectra of NMF/Ne, NMF/Ar and NMF/N₂(CO,H₂O)/Ar matrices have been measured and the effect of the complexation on the perturbation of t-NMF frequencies was analyzed. The geometries of the complexes formed between t-NMF and Ar, N₂, CO and H₂O were optimized in two steps at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level of theory. The four structures, found for every system at this level, were reoptimized on the CP-corrected potential energy surface; both normal and CP corrected harmonic frequencies and intensities were calculated. For every optimized structure the interaction energy was partitioned according to the SAPT scheme and the topological distribution of the charge density (AIM theory) was performed. The analysis of the experimental and theoretical results indicates that the t-NMF–N₂ and CO complexes present in the matrices are stabilized by very weak N–H⋯N and N–H⋯C hydrogen bonds in which the N–H group of t-NMF serves as a proton donor. In turn, the t-NMF–H₂O complex present in the matrix is stabilized by O–H⋯O(C) hydrogen bonding in which the carbonyl group of t-NMF acts as a proton acceptor. Both, the theoretical and experimental results indicate that involvement of the NH group of t-NMF in formation of very weak hydrogen bonds with the N₂ or CO molecules leads to a clearly noticeable red shift of the CH stretching wavenumber whereas engagement of the CO group as a proton acceptor triggers a blue shift of this wavenumber.