Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cements: III. Infrared Spectroscopic Studies

The structure of eugenol, zinc eugenolate salt, zinc oxide-eugenol and guaiacol ce-ments, and deuterated analogues was studied by infrared spectroscopy. The molecular geometry of the zinc eugenolate chelate and the parent eugenol dimer were similar. The role of water in the cement structure re-mains a matter for speculation. Zinc oxide-eugenol cement was developed as long ago as the late 19th century from a cement originated by Sorel ' in 1858; this cement was the reaction product of zinc oxide powder and a concentrated aqueous solution of zinc chloride. Sorel's cement-forming liquid was replaced successively b