MOLECULAR POLARIZABILITY - SYMMETRICALLY SUBSTITUTED MESITYLENES

Molar Kerr constants (× 10−12)are reported for 2, 4, 6-trichloromesitylene, 2, 4, 6-tribromomesitylene, and 2, 4, 6-triiodomesityleneas solutes in carbon tetrachloride and for 2, 4, 6-trinitromesityleneas a solute in benzene. Microwave absorption measurements indicate the non-polarity of all four solutes and the small apparent dipole moments observed for some of these solutes can be ascribed to atomic polarization. The substituents are not therefore staggered as has previously been suggested for2, 4, 6-trinitromesitylene. Estimates of the polarizability semi-axes for these molecules are given. © 1968 CSIRO. All rights reserved.