Microwave Spectrum of Glycerol

Glycerol molecule presents information about the energies involved in intramolecular hydrogen bonding of vicinal hydroxyl groups. These properties were the motivations for the current study of the rotational spectra of glycerol in a pulsed nozzle Fourier transform microwave (FTMW) spectrometer. In addition to the spectra of the two previously identified conformers a search in the spectral records revealed four sets of rotational transitions which were assigned to the two new conformers and excited vibrational state of conformer. The assignments were made on the basis of the rotational constants and dipole moment values derived from the new ab initio calculations.