Raman OD stretching spectra were measured for aqueous and alcoholic R4NCl solutions in both liquid state at room temperature and glassy state at liquid nitrogen temperature (alcohol = methanol and ethanol, R = alkyl group: methyl, ethyl and n-propyl). Comparison of the spectra indicates that enhancement of the low frequency region is more pronounced for the glassy aqueous solution than the corresponding alcohol solution. It is suggested that hydrophobic hydration plays a role in the strengthening of hydrogen bonds around an apolar solute (group) at low temperatures in aqueous solution system. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.