Rotationally resolved S(1) <-- S(0) electronic spectra of 1,2-dimethoxybenzene (DMB) and its water complex have been observed and assigned. The derived values of the rotational constants show that the bare molecule has a planar heavy-atom structure with trans-disposed methoxy groups in its ground and excited electronic states. The transition of DMB is polarized along the b-axis bisecting the methoxy groups, demonstrating that its S(1) state is an (1)L(b) state. Higher energy bands of DMB are also polarized along the b-axis and have been tentatively assigned to different vibrational modes of the (1)L(b) state. The water complex origin appears 127 cm(-1) to the blue of the bare molecule origin. Analyses of the high resolution spectra of DMB/H(2)O and DMB/D(2)O suggest that the water molecule is attached via two O-H...O hydrogen bonds to the methoxy groups in both electronic states. A tunneling motion of the attached water molecule is revealed by a splitting of these spectra into two subbands. Potential barriers to this motion have been determined.

New experimental data have been obtained for the methoxy radical by observing at high-resolution laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and stimulated emission pumping (SEP) transitions between the X (2)E and lowest excited A (2)A(1) state. The SEP transitions were from the A state (pumped from the X (2)E(3/2) spin-orbit component) to the X (2)E(1/2) spin-orbit component. These data for the first time directly connect with high precision the spin-orbit components of the X (2)E ground state of CH(3)O. Surprisingly these new SEP observations are inconsistent with predictions of the X state structure based on long-standing analyses primarily based on the microwave spectra of ground state CH(3)O. It is found that all the experimental data can be understood consistently when the previously accepted value of the spin-orbit coupling constant is adjusted and the reflection parity assignments in the X state are reversed. The latter action changes the sign of a number of reflection-parity-dependent parameters in the X state. The ramifications of the changes and the physical interpretation of the resulting parameters are discussed in some detail.

No abstract

Rotationally resolved fluorescence excitation spectra of several torsional bands in the S1 <-- S0 electronic spectra of 2-methylanisole (2MA) and 3-methylanisole (3MA) have been recorded in the collision-free environment of a molecular beam. Some of the bands can be fit with rigid rotor Hamiltonians; others exhibit perturbations produced by the coupling between the internal rotation of the methyl group and the overall rotation of the entire molecule. Analyses of these data show that 2MA and 3MA both have planar heavy-atom structures; 2MA has trans-disposed methyl and methoxy groups, whereas 3MA has both cis- and trans-disposed substituents. The preferred orientations (staggered or eclipsed) in two of the conformers and the internal rotation barriers of the methyl groups in all three conformers change when they are excited by light. Additionally, the values of the barriers opposing their motion depend on the relative positions of the substituent groups, in both electronic states. In contrast, no torsional motions of the attached methoxy groups were detected. Possible reasons for these behaviors are discussed.

Rotationally resolved fluorescence excitation spectra of the S1 <-- S0 origin bands and higher vibronic bands of fluorene (FLU), carbazole (CAR), and dibenzofuran (DBF) have been observed and assigned. Analyses of these data show that replacement of the CH2 group in FLU with a NH group in CAR and an O atom in DBF produces only localized changes in structure, in the ground state. But the three molecules exhibit different changes in geometry when they are excited by light. The S1 states of the three molecules also are electronically very different. The S1 <-- S0 transition moments of CAR and DBF are parallel to the C2 symmetry axis whereas the corresponding transition moment in FLU is perpendicular to this axis. Herzberg-Teller coupling involving the S2 state also has been observed in the spectra of higher vibronic bands of CAR and DBF. Possible reasons for these behaviors are discussed.