Fourth overtone spectra of OH oscillators in simple alcohols

Fourth overtone (v = 5) spectra of the OH stretch of eight alcohols are reported. Well resolved bands are observed for different conformations of the hydroxyl group about the CO bond axis. Many of the bands exhibit coarse rotational structure, in contrast to overtone bands of CH oscillators in comparable sized hydrocarbons and benzene. Deuteration of the carbon skeleton of methanol, 2-propanol and t-butanol reveals additional structure in the OH overtone spectra.