Internal rotation in 1,2-dichloroethane

Abstract

The magnitudes of dipole moment and molar Kerr constant of 1,2-dichloroethane as solute in carbon tetrachloride, previously recorded by Aroney, Izsak, and Le Fèvre, are discussed in relation to internal rotation in the molecule. The results are found to be consistent with a mixture consisting of 31.3% of gauche-isomer and 68.7 % of trans-isomer. Estimation of the potential energy barriers restricting intramolecular rotation is attempted and the results found to be satisfactory.