A high resolution, inelastic neutron scattering investigation of tunnelling methyl groups in aspirin

The tunnel frequency of protonated methyl groups in aspirin has been measured, by inelastic neutron scattering, at 2 K, to be 1.22 μeV. This result and the temperature dependence up to 42 K are in poor agreement with NMR measurements of deuterated methyl groups which conclude that the rotational potential is purely three-fold symmetric. The discrepancy is attributed to a six-fold contribution in the rotational potential for which justification is provided by a calculation of the rotational potential based on the room temperature crystal structure.