Abstract
AN investigation by me of the Raman effect in a series of mercaptans has yielded some noteworthy results. As is well known, the mercaptans are chemically analogous to the alcohols, the SH group in them replacing the OH group characteristic of the alcohols. The oscillation of the SH group comes out prominently as an intense though somewhat diffuse line in the Raman spectra of all the mercaptans examined, with a frequency shift of 2574 wave numbers. This is in marked contrast to the behaviour of the OH group, of which the broad band (σ = 3400 cm.–1 approximately) appears only in water and methyl alcohol but not in the higher alcohols. Another strong line appears with all the mercaptans giving a frequency shift of about 657 wave numbers, and is evidently due to the oscillation of the CS group; it is in the same position as the most intense line in the spectrum of carbon disulphide. The analogous oscillation of the CO group with a frequency of about 1050 wave numbers appears strongly in methyl alcohol but only very weakly in the higher alcohols.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
VENKATESWARAN, S. Raman Spectra of the Mercaptans. Nature 126, 434 (1930). https://doi.org/10.1038/126434b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/126434b0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.