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Predicition of the molecular structure of ill-defined hydrocarbons using vibrational, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy
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- Author / Creator
- Obiosa-Maife, Collins
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This represents a proof-of-concept study of the appropriateness of vibrational and NMR spectroscopy for predicting the molecular structure of large molecules on the basis of a library of small molecules. Density Functional Theory (DFT) B3LYP/6-311G was used generate all spectra. 20 model compounds comprising two multiple-ringed polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) connected by varying aliphatic chain-lengths were investigated. A least squares optimization algorithm was developed to determine the contribution of molecular subunits in the model compounds. 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy failed to identify subunits unambiguously even with a constrained library. By contrast, IR and Raman results independently identified 40% and 65% respectively and jointly more than 80 % of the aromatic groups present; however, the aliphatic chain-length was poorly defined in general. IR and Raman spectroscopy are a suitable basis for spectral decomposition and should play a greater role in the identification of ringed subunits present in ill-defined hydrocarbons
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- Graduation date
- Fall 2009
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.