Microwave spectrum,dipole moment and barrier to internal rotation of trans-methyl glyoxal

The microwave spectrum of the trans conformer of methyl glyoxal has been investigated in the frequency range from 8 to 40 GHz. The rotational constants have been determined for the A state: A = 9102.4332(31), B = 4439.8832(27) and C = 3038.9404(22) MHz. Quantitative measurements of the Stark effect have yielded the components of the electric dipole moment: μ_a = 0.1597(11), μ_b = 0.9620(7) and μ_total = 0.9751(7) D. From the splittings of rotational transitions the three-fold barrier to internal rotation of the methyl top has been found to be V₃ = 269.1 (3) cm^?1.