Knowledge Bank

At last year's Columbus Symposium, Nikolaev and $Pratta$ reported studies of a benzyl alcohol derivative indicating that the C-O bond does not lie in a plane orthogonal to the benzene ring. That report prompted this study on benzyl alcohol, itself. The microwave rotational spectrum of benzyl alcohol $(C6H5CH2OH)$ has been observed at rotational temperatures near 1 K on a pulsed-jet Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. Measurements have been taken in the range 6 to 15 GHz. A preliminary assignment of the spectrum is consistent with a nonorthogonal orientation of the C-O bond with respect to the benzene ring. Analysis of the spectrum is continuing which will determine the torsional orientation of the C-O bond as well as the conformation of the alcoholic hydrogen.