The 1:1 complex of tert-butyl alcohol with difluoromethane has been characterized by means of a joint experimental-computational investigation. Its rotational spectrum has been recorded by using a pulsed-jet Fourier-Transform microwave spectrometer. The experimental work has been guided and supported by accurate quantum-chemical calculations. In particular, the computed potential energy landscape pointed out the formation of three stable isomers. However, the very low interconversion barriers explain why only one isomer, showing one O-H···F and two C-H···O weak hydrogen bonds, has been experimentally characterized. The effect of the H → tert-butyl- group substitution has been analyzed from the comparison to the difluoromethane-water adduct.
Keywords: DFT calculations; Non-covalent interactions; Weak hydrogen bonds; quantum chemistry; rotational spectroscopy.