In: Chemistry
1) Different hybridizations give rise to different vibrational
frequencies. Terminal
alkynes have C-H stretching frequencies of about 3300 cm-1; alkene
C-H stretching
frequencies are around 3100 cm-1, and alkane C-H stretching
frequencies are
around 2900 cm-1. Explain these observations
1) sp hybridized carbons have 50% s-character, sp2 hybridized carbons have 33% s-character and sp3 hybridized carbons have 25% s-character. More the s-character a bond has, more tightly the bond would be held by it.
Hence, sp C-H is the strongest.The next is sp2 C-H which is stronger than sp3 C-H bond.
Greater the bond strength, higher is the vibrational frequecy for the bond. Hence, alkyne C-H has higher stretching frequency (3300 cm-1) than alkene C-H (3100 cm-1?); which in turn, has higher stretching frequency than alkane C-H (2900 cm-1?).
2) Esters have higher stretching frequencies than ketone due to the presence of electronegative oxygen atom which has negative inductive effect and hence, stiffens C=O.
In esters though resonance is possible which should decrease vibrational frequency(because conjugation decreases vibrational frequency) but it doesn't happen so. Here, -I effect dominates +R effect, which decreases the electron density in the C=O and stiffens the bond. As a result, stretching frequency increases.