Spectres de vibration et conformations du propionate et de l'isobutyrate de méthyle

Infrared and Raman spectra (3600–3620cm^?1) of methyl propionate CH₃CH₂-COOCH₃, CH₃CH₂COOCD₃ and methyl isobutyrate (CH₃)₂CHCOOCH₃, (CH₃)₂CHCOOCD₃, in liquid and crystalline states, have been recorded. Rotational isomerism, by rotation around the C-C bond α to the carbonyl group, is detected and the energy difference between the conformers is 1.1 ±0.3 kcal mol^?1 for methyl propionate and 0.5 ±0.1 kcal mol^?1 for methyl isobutyrate. Vibrational assignments in terms of group frequencies are proposed for each conformer, only the more stable being present in the crystal.