Conformational Equilibria and Large‐Amplitude Motions in Dimers of Carboxylic Acids: Rotational Spectrum of Acetic Acid–Difluoroacetic Acid

We report the rotational spectra of two conformers of the acetic acid–difluoroacetic acid adduct (CH₃COOH–CHF₂COOH) and supply information on its internal dynamics. The two conformers differ from each other, depending on the trans or gauche orientation of the terminal ?CHF₂ group. Both conformers display splittings of the rotational transitions, due to the internal rotation of the methyl group of acetic acid. The corresponding barriers are determined to be V₃(trans)=99.8(3) and V₃(gauche)=90.5(9) cm^?1 (where V₃ is the methyl rotation barrier height). The gauche form displays a further doubling of the rotational transitions, due to the tunneling motion of the ?CHF₂ group between its two equivalent conformations. The corresponding B₂ barrier is estimated to be 108(2) cm^?1. The increase in the distance between the two monomers upon OH→OD deuteration (the Ubbelohde effect) is determined.