INFRARED AND RAMAN-SPECTRA OF TETRAHYDROFURAN HYDROPEROXIDE

The hydroperoxide of tetrahydrofuran (THF) has been prepared from unst abilized THF by a simple procedure. It appears that there are no previ ous reports of vibrational spectra of THF hydroperoxide in the literat ure. Raman and infrared spectra of the compound are presented here. Th e prominent feature of the infrared spectrum is a very strong broad ba nd centered at 3330 cm(-1) attributed to the OO-H stretching mode. A s trong Raman line at 884 cm(-1) is assigned to the O-O stretching vibra tion. The corresponding infrared band is very weak. 300 MHz proton and C-13 NMR spectra also have been recorded. The NMR spectra are consist ent with the structure 2-hydroperoxytetrahydrofuran. Implications of t he formation of the hydroperoxide during storing and handling of THF a s a solvent for Liquid chromatography and other applications are discu ssed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.