The hydroxyacetone (CH ₃COCH ₂(OH)) torsional potential and isomerization: A theoretical study

In this work we explore the torsional potentials for hydroxyacetone using second order Nteller-Plesset (MP2) and coupled-cluster (CCSD(T)) ab initio theoretical methods. We have calculated these potential energy surfaces as a function of single OH rotation, and simultaneous OH and methyl rotation. The results indicate that the low energy isomers coupled to the reduced barrier to methyl rotation can lead to several rotamers for this species to form. The values are compared to experimental quantities and implications for astrobiological research are also addressed.