Microwave spectrum and rotational isomerism in isopropyl mercaptan

A microwave investigation of isopropyl mercaptan has established the existence of both trans and gauche conformers, the trans being more stable by 57 cal mole^?1. Stark effect measurements give the dipole moments as 1.61 ± 0.2 D for the trans and 1.53 ± 0.2 D for the gauche species. The spectra of the isotopic species (CH₃)₂CH³²SD, (CH₃)₂CH³⁴SH, and (CH₃)₂CH³⁴SD of the trans form have also been analyzed, providing a limited amount of structural data.The rotational spectrum of the gauche isomer is noticeably influenced by inversion. Interactions between energy levels in the two lowest inversion states have been satisfactorily accounted for in terms of rotational constants, coupling parameters (G_a and G_c), and ΔE₀, the inversion level splitting. ΔE₀ is found to be 562.4 MHz for the ground state of (CH₃)₂CHSH and 10.0 MHz for (CH₃)₂CHSD. A value of 1.98 kcal mole^?1 has been calculated for the barrier to internal rotation of the -SH group in terms of a V₃ potential.