Date of Award
2012
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Chemistry
Department
Chemistry and Biochemistry
First Advisor
Nathan Hammer
Second Advisor
Wei-Yin Chen
Third Advisor
Michael Mossing
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
This dissertation research focuses on the effects of noncovalent interactions on vibrational energy levels. Vibrational spectroscopy is a powerful tool for the study of the effects of weak intermolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonding and interactions with the environment, including solvation effects. Changes in the vibrational spectra of interacting molecules allow us to ascertain exactly which atoms and bonds are affected and to what extent they are affected. Quantum mechanical methods, ab initio theory and density functional theory, are employed to model molecular geometries, properties, and subtle interactions between molecules. Much of this research centers on the comparison of these theoretical results to experimental observables. Systems studied include weak interactions in crystalline pyrimidine, pyrimidine and hydrogen bond donor solvents (such as water, methanol, and ethylene glycol), interactions between pyrimidine and silver for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy applications, and intermolecular interactions (more specifically dihydrogen bonding) in ammonia borane clusters.
Recommended Citation
Wright, Ashley, "Investigations Of Noncovalent Interactions Using Raman Spectroscopy And Electronic Structure Computations" (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 413.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/413