Infra-red spectrum and conformations of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl vinyl ether

Abstract

The infra-red spectrum of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl vinyl ether has been studied for the vapour, liquid and solid states. Evidence is presented for the presence of rotational isomers in the vapour and liquid phases arising from the internal rotation about the central bond of the CH₂CH—OC fragment. Two crystalline solid phases exist and evidence is proposed for the occurrence of more than one rotamer in one of these solid phases. The least stable of these latter conformations is brought about by rotation about the CH₂CHO—C bond.

The dipole moment has been measured in benzene solution at 293 K and found to be 2.9 ± 0.2 D.