Conformational analysis of α-deuteriocyclohexanol by infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

The ν(C–D) stretching frequency of α-deuteriocyclohexanol exhibits a well-resolved doublet arising from the equatorial (2153 cm.^–1) and axial (2102 cm.^–1, in carbon tetrachloride solution) conformers. These ν(C–D) frequencies provide a far more definitive means of establishing the conformational behaviour of cyclohexanol than either the ν(C–OH) or ν(O–H) modes. Quantitative measurements of the system yield values of the conformational free energy which are now in agreement with values determined by other physical techniques.