Structure and dipole relaxation mechanisms in the cyclic alcohols cyclopentanol to cyclo-octanol

Abstract

The phase structure and stability of the solid phases of cyclopentanol, cyclohexanol, cycloheptanol and cyclo-octanol have been investigated by examining the dielectric relaxation mechanisms in these materials. It has been found that a number of the transitions between the stable phases are time-dependent as well as temperature-dependent and these effects have given rise to misconceptions in the phase structure. For the cyclic alcohols examined the stable phases have been characterised and where possible this has been done in terms of dipolar cluster distributions. The results of the dielectric investigation are discussed in terms of the structure of the materials.