Menthyl acetate. A new link in the chain of acetates studied with rotational spectroscopy

We present here a detailed conformational analysis of menthyl acetate, one the constituents peppermint oil. Two conformers acetate were observed in broadband rotational spectrum 2–12 GHz frequency range. The structure lowest energy conformer was obtained from experiment based on assignment singly-substituted 13C-isotopologues. Additionally, internal dynamics methyl top acetyl side group characterized. experimentally determined barrier height is line with previous spectroscopy results for other acetates, which heights order 1 kJ/mol reported.