What absorbs at 1459 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1459 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 1459 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 | 16 | 16 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 6 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Secondary amine | 3 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Carbonate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Protein | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| N h | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| C c single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Phosphate (PO4) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C n single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Aromatic ring | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Fatty acid | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polypropylene | 1459, 1030, 1600 | Alkyl C-H, Methacrylate, Acetate | 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 1459 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
“C-H 2927 stretching 1459 bending 66.5577 0.7872 4.42 2.75 Cu-H C-H 2062 stretching 1421 bending”
El Bialy 等 - 2020 - Comparative Toxicological Effects of Biologically DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S241922 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“shoulder band at about The 1459 and 1384cm-1 bands are methyl bending signals and bands at 1243”
Font 等 - 2007 - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as a suita DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2007.07.021 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“1596 Stretching vibration of carbon atoms in the aromatic framework 1513 1508 Aromatic skeletal vibrations in extractives and lignin 3399 3399 O-H stretching vibration of carbohydrate C-OH 1459”
Jin 等 - 2022 - Rapid Identification for the Pterocarpus Bracelet DOI: 10.3390/molecules27154793 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“cm-1 (carboxylic acid), 1599 (aromatic C C bending and stretchcm-1 cm-1 ing), 1459 (C H bend), 1382 ( OH bending and C O cm-1 stretching of carboxylic acid), 741 and 756 (1,2-disubstituted ring vibrations), respectively.”
Telmisartan complex augments solubility, dissolution and drug delivery in prostate cancer cells DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.09.077 -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“rPP rPP + 10% -C-H (CH2) Vibrational Mode 2868.2 69.2 2870.0 70.9 2868.2 73.8 2868.2 83.2 WN Intensity WN Intensity WN Intensity WN Intensity stretching 1459.2 68.2 1459.3 70,6 1459.2 72,5 1459.3 80.1 C-O-H 2868.2 69.2 2870.0 70.9 2868.2 73”
Glass Powder Additive on Recycled Polypropylene Filaments: A Sustainable Material in 3D Printing DOI: 10.3390/polym14010005 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“Peaks at 1459 and 1345 cm-1 are due to the stretching vibration of C-H in CH2 and”
Walnut Oil Oleogels as Milk Fat Replacing System for Commercially Available Chocolate Butter DOI: 10.3390/gels8100613 -
Carboxyl (COOH) confidence 1.0
“The band observed at ~1459 due to the capability of possessing high specific capaciCOOcould be assigned to the presence of carboxyl group tance of the sample M2.”
Physico-chemical properties of pure and zinc incorporated cobalt nickel mixed ferrite (ZnxCo0.005−xNi0.005Fe2O4, where x = 0, 0.002, 0.004 M) nanoparticles DOI: 10.1007/s10854-017-7556-4 -
Aromatic ring confidence 1.0
“LLM confirmed rule peak-group candidate”
Development of New Amphiphilic Catalytic Steam Additives for Hydrothermal Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques DOI: 10.3390/catal12080921
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