What absorbs at 1342 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1342 cm⁻¹ can point to several functional groups. Below are the most likely assignments, ranked by how much published evidence supports each — every one traceable to literature (DOI) and cross-validated against our 130,000+ reference spectra and knowledge graph.
Backed by 8 cited sources
Quick answer
A band near 1342 cm⁻¹ is usually interpreted by checking which functional groups repeatedly co-occur there in the literature, then confirming at least one or two additional peaks in the same sample. This page ranks those assignments by accumulated evidence rather than by a single fixed textbook rule.
Possible functional-group assignments
| Functional group | Supporting facts | Cited sources | Top confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alkyl C-H | 10 | 10 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| N-O bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Borate | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
Ranking reflects accumulated literature evidence, not a single fixed rule. Always confirm against your sample context.
Possible materials
| Material | Supporting peaks | Overlapping groups | Cited sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| PET | 1342, 1408, 800 | Methacrylate, Alkyl C-H, Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 |
| Polyethylene | 1342, 1737, 1720 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, Methoxy (OCH3) | 1 |
| PEG | 1342, 1650, 1100 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, C-O single bond | 1 |
Materials are shown only when the same literature pool supports this band and at least one additional characteristic peak.
Spectrum logic
This band becomes meaningful only when read with its neighboring peaks. In practice, analysts first look at the assignments above, then check whether the same sample also shows other peaks expected for the same structural motif. A lone band near 1342 cm⁻¹ is usually not enough for material identification by itself.
Real-world usage
This type of query is common in polymer identification, unknown plastic screening, QC troubleshooting, recycled-material verification, and literature-backed peak assignment review.
Common mistakes
- Treating one isolated band as proof of a material without checking at least one or two supporting peaks.
- Ignoring overlap: multiple functional groups can contribute near the same wavenumber.
- Skipping validation when additives, blends, oxidation, or contamination may distort the spectrum.
Verification advice
When ambiguity remains, validate the hypothesis with DSC, GC-MS, or TGA, especially for blends, degraded samples, and filled polymers.
Literature behind these assignments
-
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“ofelectrochemicalpolarisationat0.65V-intheethanoloxidation to the CH wagging of adsorbed ethanol via the O atom [21] 2 1338/1342cm-1).”
In situ spectroelectrochemical measurements during the electro-oxidation of ethanol on WC-supported Pt-black, based on sum-frequency generation spectroscopy DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.01.017 -
Borate confidence 1.0
“C-O For instance, the stretching mode from the sixcm-1 member glucose ring is observed at 1107 after the PBAmonolayerwasexposedtoglucose,suggestiveofthe presenceofglucose.Also,shiftsandchangesinpeakprofile B-O cm-1, occur in the stretching”
Brewer 等 - 2004 - Infrared detection of a phenylboronic acid termina DOI: 10.1021/la035037m -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The 1342 band corresponding to CH wagging of trans conformation of 2 crystalline phase show a sharpe linear decrease as the fast neutrons fluence goes up.”
Polyethylene terephthalate degradation under reactor neutron irradiation DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2016.10.002 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“Among the more intense bands, we observe in the IR SE spectra the characteristic bands corresponding to the vibration modes of the trans C-O stretch (~976 cm-1), the ester C-C, C-O stretch (~1024 cm-1), the ethylene glycol CH2 wagging mode”
Laskarakis 等 - 2004 - A Spectroscopic Ellipsometry study of PET membrane DOI: 10.1002/masy.200450109 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“At 1342 a peak associated with Nowadays, to reduce the duration of cooking, agave the O-H bending of the C-OH group appears.”
Mondragon-Cortez 等 - 2022 - Application of Fourier transform infrared spectros DOI: 10.24275/rmiq/Alim2806 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The weak peak at 1342 is correTwelve lated with CH bending (Nakanishi & Solomon, 1977) bands are shown at 1745-1744, 1683-1672, 1557-1553, C.S.”
Pappas 等 - 2008 - Identification and differentiation of goat and she DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2007.07.034 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The vibration peak at ~770 is due to the O = C-O deformation [20], while cm-1 the vibration peak at ~1342 is due to the C-H bending vibrations of formate ions (HCOO-)”
Proton-Conducting Biopolymer Electrolytes Based on Carboxymethyl Cellulose Doped with Ammonium Formate DOI: 10.3390/polym14153019 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“Additionally, spectra of treated cm-1 substrata show the appearance of a band at 1342 O-H associated with bending vibration which is not unmodified present in the PU.”
Effect of PEG grafting density on surface properties of polyurethane substrata and the viability of osteoblast and fibroblast cells DOI: 10.1007/s10856-022-06668-1
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