Characterization of NH overtone and combination bands in the near-infrared absorption spectra of simple cyclic imides

Bands due to overtone and combination vibrational modes attributable to the imide grouping have been elucidated in the near-IR absorption spectra of small-ring cyclic imides, in which the grouping is in a cis, cis conformation. The spectra closely parallel the spectra of cis lactams except that two combination modes involving the carbonyl stretching fundamental, [ν(NH) + ν(CO)] and [2ν(C=O) + imide III], occur at higher wavenumbers in the imide spectra, reflecting the higher frequency at which this fundamental absorbs. This same factor results in a reversal in the wavenumber positions of the [2ν(CO) + imide III] and [ν(NH) + imide III] combination bands in the imide spectra relative to those in the lactam spectra. In addition, in-phase and out-of-phase vibrational coupling between the two carbonyl groups in the imides may compound the band due to the [ν(NH) + ν(CO)] combination mode. These three spectral characteristics serve to distinguish the imides from the lactams in the near-IR.