Gauche- and trans-n-butane and their IR-induced interconversion in solid neon

Both conformers of n-butane are trapped from the gas phase in solid Ne at 4 K. Broad band infrared irradiation (mainly the CH-stretching region) induces interconversions, the quantum yield for the gauche — trans isomerization being approximately eight times higher than that for the reverse process. The energy difference between the conformers was found to be ?3.05 kJ mol^?1. The vibrational spectra of both conformers are given.