Knowledge Bank

Tertiary-butyl alcohol is a nearly spherical rotor for which the internal rotation axis of the \textit{t}-butyl group is close to the $c$ molecular axis in the \textit{ac} plane. Methyl group torsional spittings are not observed in the ground state. Its 8 to 40 GHz rotational spectrum was reported at this meeting by Valenzuela and Woods in 1974 and in more detail in 1975. The parameters derived at that time from a fit to the $E$ states with $J,K\le 20$ have provided the basis for extending the measurements to $>500$ GHz. The combined data set extends to $J,K>50$ and is fit with the program {\sc spfit} using a common set of parameters for both the $A$ and $E$ states. The general features of the spectrum and the fitting procedure will be described. The resulting molecular constants and their interpretation will be discussed.