Solid State Proton Spin Relaxation and \u3ci\u3et\u3c/i\u3e-Butyl and Methyl Group Reorientation in 1-Bromo-2,4,6-Tri-\u3ci\u3et\u3c/i\u3e-Butylbenzene

We have used the solid state proton spin relaxation technique to investigate the barriers for methyl and t-butyl group reorientation in polycrystalline 1-bromo-2,4,6-tri-t-butylbenzene. The barriers in the range of 15-19 kJ/mol (3-5 kcal/mol) are compared with those found in related molecules. It is shown that the neighboring ring bromine atom has an effect on the barrier for t-butyl group reorientation similar to that of a neighboring hydrogen atom despite the significantly larger van der Waals\u27 radius of a bromine atom. This most likely occurs because of the relatively long carbon-bromine bond, the distorted ring geometry, and the relatively high polarizability of bromine. In addition, the barriers for methyl group reorientation, about 16 kJ/mol, seem to be largely intra-t-butyl in origin