Strong Quantum Coupling in the Vibrational Signatures of a Symmetric Ionic Hydrogen Bond: The Case of (CH3OH)2H(.).

Vibrational coupling between proton and flanking group motions in the ionic hydrogen bond (IHB) of (CH3OH)2H(+) were studied by solving reduced-dimension vibrational Schrödinger equations. Potential energy and dipole surfaces along a few key normal modes were constructed with high-level ab initio methods. It was found that the IHB stretch parallel to O-O axis strongly couples with the out-of-phase C-O stretch and out-of-phase in-plane CH3 rock with COH deformation. Such strong quantum coupling leads to a complex triplet at 850-1100 cm(-1) region. Furthermore, we have investigated the possible active role of torsional motion in intensity redistribution.