15min:

DIANE M. MITCHELL, DAVID W. PRATT, Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15260; JAMES A. J. FITZPATRICK, Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.

High resolution fluorescence excitation spectra have been observed for the S₁-S₀ transition of two conformers of 9-fluorenemethanol. With the aid of theoretical calculations, the band at 33,788.8 cm^-1 has been assigned to an asymmetric conformer while the two bands at 33,561.7 and 33,563.6 cm^-1 have been assigned to the symmetric conformer. Possible explanations for the two symmetric bands will be explored. The discussion will include the feasibility of internal motion versus the prospect of a torsional motion(s) resulting in an asymmetric barrier.