Inertial axis reorientation in the S 1←S 0 electronic transition of 2pyridone. A rotational Duschinsky effect. Structural and dynamical consequences J. Chem. Phys. 95, 8732 (1991); 10.1063/1.461209 Molecular dynamics study of rotational reorientation of tryptophan and several indoles in water J. Chem. Phys. 94, 3857 (1991); 10.1063/1.460661 The S 1-S 0 transition of indole and Ndeuterated indole: Spectroscopy and picosecond dynamics in the excited state J. Chem. Phys. 91, 6013 (1989); 10.1063/1.457418The rotationally resolved electronic spectrum of indole in the gas phase Rotationally resolved laser induced fluorescence excitation spectra of the S 1 ( 1 L b )←S 0 origin bands of indole, indazole, and benzimidazole have been measured. From these spectra, the rotational constants in both electronic states have been determined. The spectra of all three molecules exhibit ''anomalous'' rotational line intensities. These intensity perturbations are a result of the reorientation, upon electronic excitation, of the inertial axes of the molecule. Intensity analysis of the rotational lines yielded information about the inertial axis reorientation, and the direction of the transition moment vector for each molecule.