What absorbs at 3745 cm⁻¹ in an FTIR spectrum?
A band near 3745 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 3745 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silanol (Si-OH) | 12 | 9 | 1.0 |
| Hydroxyl (O-H) | 12 | 9 | 1.0 |
| Silicon (Si) | 5 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Carboxyl (COOH) | 2 | 2 | 1.0 |
| Alkyl C-H | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Metal hydroxyl | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Bronsted acid site | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Bromine | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Thiol | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| chitosan | 3745, 1650, 1655 | Hydroxyl (O-H) | 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 3745 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
-
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“The FTIR spectrum of cm-1 band is due to residual hydroxyls absorbing about 3505 activated AlBEA sample exhibits IR bands at 3782, 3745, 3740 cm-1”
Penkova 等 - 2007 - Effect of the preparation method on the state of n DOI: 10.1021/jp071927p -
Silanol (Si-OH) confidence 1.0
“SiO exhibited one 2 2 cm-1 typical peak at 3745 assigned to isolated silanols (n(O-H)), whereas curcumin displayed a sharp peak at cm-1”
Treatment of breast cancer in vivo by dual photodynamic and photothermal approaches with the aid of curcumin photosensitizer and magnetic nanoparticles DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78241-1 -
Silanol (Si-OH) confidence 1.0
“Fore bare samples, two main bands observed at 3745 and cm-1 349 3600 are associated with terminal silanol Si-OH and Brønsted acid sites Al-OH-Si cm-1 350 groups, respectively [41, 42].”
New synthesis routes and catalytic applications of ferrierite crystals. Part 1: 1,8-Diaminooctane as a new OSDA DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2019.109987 -
Alkyl C-H confidence 1.0
“---------- 4694, 4530 2 stretching compounds.29 ractions occur between The electrostatic potential is the energy of the interaction of a point positive charge (an electrophile) CH stretching (ring) 3745”
Delgadillo-Armendariz 等 - 2014 - INTERACTIONS OF CHITOSANGENIPIN HYDROGELS DURING DOI: 10.5935/0100-4042.20140243 -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“bulky silyl-derivative in the synthesis leads to a lower amount of isolated silanols in the final material: a signal centred at cm-1, 3745 due to the O-H stretching mode of Si-OH groups, is visible but its intensity is much lower than the r”
Erigoni 等 - 2019 - Acid properties of organosiliceous hybrid material DOI: 10.1039/C9CY01609K. -
Silicon (Si) confidence 1.0
“4, black Downloaded Commons cm(cid:3)1, O-H curve), the signal at 3745 assigned to the stretching Si-OH, graing mode of isolated disappeared upon NHC (red”
Hybrid catalysts based on N-heterocyclic carbene anchored on hierarchical zeolites DOI: 10.1039/c9ra07516j -
Hydroxyl (O-H) confidence 1.0
“For cm-1 SBA-15-ex, the sharp band at 3745 could be attributed to the vibration of isolated hydroxyl group Materials 2013, 6 987”
Grafting of Amines on Ethanol-Extracted SBA-15 for CO2 Adsorption DOI: 10.3390/ma6030981 -
Silanol (Si-OH) confidence 1.0
“cm(cid:3)1) assigned to bridging hydroxyl groups (3610 and the cm(cid:3)1 cm(cid:3)1), silanol bands (3745 and 3736 accompanied by the cm(cid:3)1 appearance of the band between 3400 and 3600 (attributed to hydrogen-bonded hydroxyl groups),”
Engineering the porosity and acidity of H-Beta zeolite by dealumination for the production of 2-ethylanthraquinone via 2-(4′-ethylbenzoyl)benzoic acid dehydration DOI: 10.1039/c7ra13576a
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