Molecular association of betaine and betaine hydrochloride in aqueous solutions--a study by Raman spectroscopy.

Raman vibrational spectroscopy, at 298 K, has been used to study the hydration of betaine hydrochloride and betaine in the concentration range 0.5-2 M. The observed changes in the internal vibrations of the solutes, namely, in the C=O, COO- and C-H stretchings, and in the components of the O-H stretching band are consonant with anionic water-betaine and betaine hydrochloride dimeric species involving simultaneously hydrogen-bonding between two solute and water molecules. In both cases, betaine hydrochloride and 'zwitterionic' betaine behave like structure-makers promoting a larger association in the 'bulk' liquid water.