Evidence for C–H–O interaction of acetone and deuterium oxide probed by high-pressure

C–H–O interaction of acetone and deuterium oxide has been probed by high pressure. High-pressure study provides the first experimental evidence for the enhancement of hydrophobic hydration of acetone as its aqueous solution was compressed to high-pressure ices. Based on the results, we conclude that the C–H–O interaction may be a distinct possibility to understand the origin of the spectral feature located at ∼2950 cm−1, being sensitive to concentration and pressure dependence. Ab initio calculation results, forecasting the frequency red shift of the C–H stretching vibration as C–H–O is interacted via hydrogen bonding, are discussed. This study demonstrates that high pressure can be used as a valuable means of triggering and investigating C–H–O hydrogen-bonding interaction.