The rotational spectra of 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b) has been investigated in the frequency region 8-115 GHz with Stark, waveguide Fourier transform (FTMW), and millimeter-wave spectrometers. Assignments in large frequency regions with the corresponding frequency measurements have been made for the ground and upsilon(18) = 1 (CH3 torsion) vibrational states of the Cl-35 isotopomer and for the mound state of the Cl-37 species. Accurate rotational, quartic centrifugal distortion, and quadrupole coupling constants have been determined from global fits considering all these states. Small A-E internal rotation splittings have been observed for the upsilon(18) = 1 vibrational slate using FTMW spectroscopy. The barrier height for the internal rotation of the methyl group has been determined to be 3751 (4) cal mol(-1), in disagreement with the previous microwave value of 4400 (100) cal mol(-1) reported by G. Graner and C. Thomas [J. Chem. Phys. 49, 4160-4167 (1968)]. (C) 1997 Academic Press.