The wave numbers of the fundamental C=O and C=C stretching vibrations, as well as that of the first overtone of C=O stretching vibration of 2-(3-, and 4-substituted phenylmethylene)-1,3-cycloheptanediones and 1,3-cycloheptanedione were measured in tetrachloromethane and chloroform. The spectral data were correlated with σ+ constants of substituents attached to phenyl group and with wave number shifts of the C=O stretching vibration of substituted acetophenones. The slope of the linear dependence ν vs ν+ of the C=C stretching vibration of the ethylenic group was found to be more than two times higher than that of the analogous correlation of the C=O stretching vibration. Positive values of anharmonicity for asymmetric C=O stretching vibration can be considered as an evidence of the vibrational coupling in a cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl system similarly, as with derivatives of 1,3-indanedione. The relationship between the wave numbers of the symmetric and asymmetric C=O stretching vibrations indicates that the effect of structure upon both vibrations is symmetric. The vibrational coupling in 1,3-cycloheptanediones and the application of Seth-Paul-Van-Duyse equation is discussed in relation to analogous results obtained for other cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.
