What absorbs at 1742 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 1742 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 1742 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbonyl (C=O) | 28 | 25 | 1.0 |
| Ester | 20 | 17 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 16 | 14 | 1.0 |
| Methacrylate | 14 | 12 | 1.0 |
| Acetate | 14 | 12 | 1.0 |
| Ketone | 13 | 11 | 1.0 |
| Amide | 13 | 11 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 6 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Lipid | 4 | 4 | 1.0 |
| Methoxy (OCH3) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Carbohydrate | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| N h | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Hydrogen bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Ring structure | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Aldehyde (CHO) | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| C-O single bond | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Acetyl | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Methyl | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
Ranking reflects accumulated literature evidence, not a single fixed rule. Always confirm against your sample context.
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 1742 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
-
Ester confidence 1.0
“They show a series of characteristic bands that are split into three bands around 1686, The FT-IR spectrum of electrospun PHB fibers and their blends are shown in Figure 9 at different 1723, and 1742 cm-1, which correspond to the ester carb”
Influence of Electrospinning Parameters on Fiber Diameter and Mechanical Properties of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and Polyanilines (PANI) Blends DOI: 10.3390/polym8030097 -
Lipid confidence 1.0
“In the vicinity of 1800~1400 187 cm-1 there were three important lipid peak at 1742, 1654, and 1438 relating to C=O 188 stretching, C=C stretching, and C-H scissoring deformation respectively.”
Gao 等 - 2021 - Complementarity of FT-IR and Raman spectroscopies DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128754 -
Carbonyl (C=O) confidence 1.0
“Reducing the intensity of the peaks at 1742 and 1629 in FT-IR spectrum of the nanofibers indicates resistance of carbonyl groups against more vibration due to interactions with aluminum ions.”
Ghayempour 和 Montazer - 2018 - A modified microemulsion method for fabrication of DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.04.037 -
Carboxyl (COOH) confidence 1.0
“cm-1 The pH-independent component is associated with a trough around the 1742 band attributable to one or more protonated carboxylic acids.”
Iwaki 和 Rich - 2007 - An IR study of protonation changes associated with DOI: 10.1021/ja067779i -
Acetate confidence 1.0
“In the spectrum of GG-g-Poly(DMAEMA)-1 156 Accepted cm-1 (Fig.2b), in addition to the peaks mentioned above, new peaks appeared at 1742 and 157 cm-1 2630 attributed to C=O stretching of carboxylic ester and C-H stretching of -N(CH 3)”
Novel stimuli - responsive gellan gum - graft - poly(DMAEMA) hydrogel as adsorbent for anionic dye DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2015.08.064 -
Lipid confidence 1.0
“since a higher absorbance of lipid bands at 1742, 1466, 1236, and [26] G.M.”
Rapid approach to analyze biochemical variation in rat organs by ATR FTIR spectroscopy DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2013.09.131 -
Carbohydrate confidence 1.0
“incorporated into the cellulose chains after esterification is assigned at 1742 The vibration at 1061 C-O-C O-H cm-1 can be elucidated for the stretching of and of polysaccharides.”
Ulfa 等 - 2019 - Adsorption of Cu(II) in Aqueous Solution by Modifi DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/239/1/012008 -
Ester confidence 1.0
“A shoulder band C=O at 1742 was observed due to conjugation of ester-groups which occurs during the 1 3 56 A.”
Garden cress gum and maltodextrin as microencapsulation coats for entrapment of garden cress phenolic-rich extract: improved thermal stability, storage stability, antioxidant and antibacterial activities DOI: 10.1007/s10068-022-01171-3
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