A FTIR-ATR study of hydrogen bonding in binary aqueous mixtures containing
tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane or poly(ethylene oxide) is reported. Observed
spectra were converted to linear absorption coefficient spectra using the B
ertie-Eysel procedure. The frequency of the OH stretching mode in isotopica
lly dilute HOD was found to increase with ether concentration, implying a c
ontinuous reduction in average hydrogen-bond strength. In water-rich mixtur
es, the initial gradients were proportional to the number of oxygen atoms i
n the cyclic ether molecules or in the polymer subunit. (C) 1999 Elsevier S
cience B.V. All rights reserved.