A dynamic NMR study of sterically hindered trialkylmethanols in the solid phase

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectrum of solid tri-tert-butylmethanol and three similar trialkylmethanols is reported. That energy barriers are 20–30% higher than found in solution is attributed to constraints of the lattice which also seem to cause the rotation and libration processes for these molecules to merge into a single process. The complications that may be encountered when studying dynamic NMR behaviour in solids are also discussed.