Infrared studies on rotational isomerism. III. 2-Chloro- and 2-bromo-ethanol

Abstract

The relative intensities of the C—X stretching bands of the gauche and trans isomers in the vapor were measured as a function of temperature up to 165 °C for 2-chloroethanol, and up to 130 °C for 2-bromoethanol. From these the enthalpy differences between the two isomers were found to be 1.20 and 1.45 ± 0.1 kcal mole −1 respectively for the two halogenated ethanols. Similar measurements on the O—H stretching bands gave values higher than the above by 0.45 kcal mole −1 for both compounds. This apparent discrepancy is interpreted as due to a second gauche isomer, the OH group of which is not engaged in intramolecular hydrogen bonding, and which is less stable than the trans isomer.A study of the isotopic molecule ClCH 2 —CH 2 OD has led to unambiguous assignment of the OH bending and torsional frequencies. The spectra of the solid show that 2-chloroethanol can exist in two different crystalline phases: a stable one consisting of gauche molecules only, and a metastable one containing both isomers.