Calculated and measured vibrational frequencies in an alkanoic acid–alkylamine complex

Calculated geometries, charges and harmonic frequencies have been obtained for a complex consisting of propanoic acid and propylamine in a molecular ratio of 3:1 using ab initio quantum-chemical methods. The calculated harmonic frequencies are compared with a Fourier transform infrared spectrum for a binary mixture of heptanoic acid and heptylamine in a molecular ratio of 3:1. Except for the oxygen–hydrogen stretching vibration in the hydroxyl group of the unionized acids, there is a good correlation between the calculated and measured frequencies.