13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies on acetophenones: Barriers to internal rotation

The barrier to internal rotation in a series of p-substituted acetophenones has been determined by means of low temperature carbon-13 n.m.r. and total bandshape analysis, resulting in: ΔG = 5·4 ± 0·1 kcal mol^?1 (22·4 ± 0·4 kJ mol^?1) for the unsubstituted acetophenone. The substituent effects on the barrier are found to be the same as for the corresponding benzaldehydes. The barrier height is discussed in terms of contributions from resonance and steric effects.