Rotational Isomerism in Chloroacetone

Abstract

Raman spectra of chloroacetone were measured in the liquid and solid states and in solutions. Infrared absorption spectra of this substance were measured in the gaseous, liquid, and solid states and in solutions. The temperature dependence of the intensity of the Raman lines and of the absorption bands were measured in the liquid state. From the experimental results together with the dipole data it was concluded that chloroacetone exists in two molecular forms in the liquid and gaseous states and in one form in the solid state. The less stable form in the liquid state becomes much more abundant than the other form in the gaseous state. Some considerations on the nature of hindering potential of internal rotation have been made.