ANALYSIS OF THE OH STRETCH OF METHANOL

Abstract

The OH stretch of methanol has been measured from 3430 to $3940 cm^{-1}$. This extension of our previous $work^{1}$ has allowed a more extensive investigation of the spectrum for transitions involving higher torsional levels. By means of combination differences calculated using the normal state parameters of Kwan and $Dennison^{2}$, several transitions have now been identified. A nonlinear least squares fit of these data indicates roughly a $10%$ increase in the barrier height in the excited state. The identification of additional transitions is expected to permit a more accurate and more complete determination of the molecular parameters in the excited state. $ ^{1}$ R. H. Hunt, R. G. Lee, E. K. Plyler, and D. M. Dennison, 25th Symposium on Molecular Structure and Spectroscopy (1970). $ ^{2} $ Y. Y. Kwan and D. M. Dennison, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 43, 291 (1972). We are indebted to Miss Y. Y. Kwan for supplying us tables of the ground state energy levels.