What absorbs at 1446 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1446 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 1446 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 | 9 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 7 | 7 | 1.0 |
| Alkene (C=C) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 3 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Metal oxygen | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| N h | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Nitrogen heterocycle | 2 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Lignin | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Bronsted acid site | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Carbonate | 1 | 0 | 1.0 |
Ranking reflects accumulated literature evidence, not a single fixed rule. Always confirm against your sample context.
Possible materials
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 1446 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
“Absorption determined the crystallinity factor by using the ratios of the cm-1 observed only at B spectra would peak at ~1446 areas covered under the peaks related to crystalline and in correspond to C-H deformation and aromatic ring vibrat”
Das 等 - 2017 - Extraction of xylem fibers from Musa sapientum and DOI: 10.1007/s12221-017-1187-5 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“cm-1, 1446 and 1413 which is the vibrations of the bending O-H group, according to the report by Reig et ■ RESULTS AND DISCUSSION al.”
Kustiyah 等 - 2022 - Effect of Calcium Carbonate Content on the Mechani DOI: 10.22146/ijc.72135 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“The peak at 1446.06 cm-1 was attributed to the -COOCvibration of the -CH 2and -CH groups, respectively.”
Study on the Effect of Fe3+ on Zircon Flotation Separation from Cassiterite Using Sodium Oleate as Collector DOI: 10.3390/min7070108 -
Amide confidence 1.0
“1518 (1) 1519 (2) cm-1 *1,445 C-N Stretch, 1446 (2) 1448 (1) 1448 (1)”
Sessa 和 Woods - 2011 - Purity Assessment of Commercial Zein Products Afte DOI: 10.1007/s11746-011-1765-4 -
confidence 1.0
“absorption peaks around 1130-1230 cm-1, which are related to the asymmetric stretching stretchingvibrationsandthepeakat1446cm-1 canbeattributedtoaromaticC=Cstretching vibrations of Fe-O-Fe.”
Degradation of Diazo Congo Red Dye by Using Synthesized Poly-Ferric-Silicate-Sulphate through Co-Polymerization Process DOI: 10.3390/polym15010237 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“cm-1 cal CH stretching at approximately 2943 [16, 17], peaks at 1446 2 cm-1 and 1370 also referring to the CH deformation modes of the CH group 2 cm-1 [18].”
Experimental and DFT studies on the structural and optical properties of chitosan/polyvinyl pyrrolidone/ZnS nanocomposites DOI: 10.1007/s00289-023-04700-0 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“Therefore, when the material was ◦C, Moreover, the bands observed at 1560 cm-1 and 1446 cm-1 are assigned to C=O vibrations of AcAc heat treated at 1000 it was transformed completely into the monoclinic structure and appears white, bidentat”
Zirconia/Hydroxyapatite Composites Synthesized Via Sol-Gel: Influence of Hydroxyapatite Content and Heating on Their Biological Properties DOI: 10.3390/ma10070757 -
Ring structure confidence 1.0
“In the cm-1) asynchronous spectrum, negative correlations observed between (1446 and 1460 and cm-1 1650 indicates that C = O bond of PVP decreases before a decrease in the bands cm-1 associated with cyclic structures.”
Investigation of Poly(ethersulfone)/Polyvinylpyrrolidone ultrafiltration membrane degradation by contact with sodium hypochlorite through FTIR mapping and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2019.01.017
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