Raman and Infrared Fingerprint Spectroscopy of Peroxide-Based Explosives

Author: Oxley Jimmie   Smith James   Brady Joseph   Dubnikova Faina   Kosloff Ronnie   Zeiri Leila   Zeiri Yehuda  

Publisher: Society for Applied Spectroscopy

ISSN: 0003-7028

Source: Applied Spectroscopy, Vol.62, Iss.8, 2008-08, pp. : 906-915

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Abstract

A comparative study of the vibrational spectroscopy of peroxide-based explosives is presented. Triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and hexamethyl-enetriperoxide-diamine (HMTD), now commonly used by terrorists, are examined as well as other peroxide-ring structures: DADP (diacetone diperoxide); TPTP [3,3,6,6,9,9-Hexaethyl-1,2,4,5,7,8-hexaoxo-nonane (tripentanone triperoxide)]; DCypDp {6,7,13,14-Tetraoxadispiro [4.2.4.2]tetradecane (dicyclopentanone diperoxide)}; TCypDp {6,7,15,16,22,23-Hexaoxatrispiro[4.2.4.2.4.2] henicosane (tricyclopentanone triperoxide)}; DCyhDp {7,8,15,16-tetraoxadispiro [5.2.5.2] hexadecane (dicyclohexanone diperoxide)}; and TCyhTp {7,8,14,15,21,22-hexaoxatrispiro [5.2.5.2.5.2] tetracosane (tricyclohexanone triperoxide)}. Both Raman and infrared (IR) spectra were measured and compared to theoretical calculations. The calculated spectra were obtained by calculation of the harmonic frequencies of the studied compounds, at the density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP/cc-pVDZ level of theory, and by the use of scaling factors. It is found that the vibrational features related to the peroxide bonds are strongly mixed. As a result, the spectrum is congested and highly sensitive to minor changes in the molecule.