1. Electronic Excitation by UV/Vis Spectroscopy :
UV: valance
electronic excitation
Radio waves:
Nuclear spin states
(in a magnetic field)
IR: molecular vibrations
X-ray:
core electron
excitation

2. Spectroscopic Techniques
Spectroscopic Techniques
UV-vis
UV-vis region
bonding electrons
Atomic Absorption
atomic transitions (val. e-)
FT-IR
IR/Microwave
vibrations, rotations
Raman
IR/UV
vibrations
FT-NMR
Radio waves
nuclear spin states
X-Ray Spectroscopy
X-rays
inner electrons, elemental
X-ray Crystallography
3-D structure

3. A=ebc The concentration dependence follows Beer’s Law.
The wavelength and amount of light that a compound absorbs depends on its molecular structure and the concentration of the compound used.
The concentration dependence follows Beer’s Law.
A=ebc
Where A is absorbance (no units, since A = log(P0 / P )
e is the molar absorbtivity with units of L mol-1 cm-1
b is the path length of the sample - that is, the path length of the cuvette in which the sample is contained (typically in cm).
c is the concentration of the compound in solution, expressed in mol L-1

4. Characteristics of UV-Vis spectra of Organic Molecules
Absorb mostly in UV unless highly conjugated
Spectra are broad, usually to broad for qualitative identification purposes
Excellent for quantitative Beer’s Law-type analyses
The most common detector for an HPLC

5. }  = hv Molecules have quantized energy levels:
ex. electronic energy levels. hv }
energy
energy

= hv
Q: Where do these quantized energy levels come from?
A: The electronic configurations associated with bonding.
Each electronic energy level (configuration) has associated with it the many vibrational energy levels we examined with IR.

6. Broad spectra Overlapping vibrational and rotational peaks
Solvent effects

7. max = 135 nm (a high energy transition)
Ethane
max = 135 nm (a high energy transition)
Absorptions having max < 200 nm are difficult to observe because everything (including quartz glass and air) absorbs in this spectral region.

8. = hv =hc/ Example: ethylene absorbs at longer wavelengths:
max = 165 nm = 10,000

9. The n to pi* transition is at even lower wavelengths but is not as strong as pi to pi* transitions. It is said to be “forbidden.”
Example:
Acetone: n max = 188 nm ; = 1860
n max = 279 nm ; = 15

10.  135 nm  165 nm n 183 nm weak  150 nm

11. 1,3 butadiene: max = 217 nm ; = 21,000
Conjugated systems:
Preferred transition is between Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) and Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO).
Note: Additional conjugation (double bonds) lowers the HOMO-LUMO energy gap:
Example:
1,3 butadiene: max = 217 nm ; = 21,000
1,3,5-hexatriene max = 258 nm ; = 35,000

12. Similar structures have similar UV spectra:
max = 240, 311 nm
max = 238, 305 nm
max = 173, 192 nm

13. For more than 4 conjugated double bonds:
Woodward-Fieser Rules for Dienes
  Homoannular Heteroannular
Parent l=253 nm l=214 nm
=217 (acyclic)
Increments for:
Double bond extending conjugation +30
  Alkyl substituent or ring residue +5
  Exocyclic double bond    +5
Polar groupings:
  -OC(O)CH3    +0
  -OR    +6
  -Cl, -Br   +5
  -NR
  -SR +30
exocyclic
Homoannular heteroannular acyclic
For more than 4 conjugated double bonds:
max = (# of alkyl groups) + n( n)

14. max = (8) + 11*( *11) = 476 nm
max(Actual) = 474.