A microwave study of the hetero-chiral dimer of butan-2-ol

The first observation of a rotationally resolved spectrum for a dimeric com plex of chiral molecules is reported. The complex in question is a hydrogen -bonded dimer of butan-2-ol and is shown to be hetero-chiral in composition . The rotational constants and components of the dipole moment agree well w ith the predictions of an ab initio study, the initial results of which are also reported. The ability of chiral species to form diastereoisomeric het ero- and homo-chiral complexes is thus given strong support. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.