n,.pi.* State of jet-cooled benzophenone as studied by sensitized phosphorescence excitation spectroscopy

The sensitized phosphorescence excitation spectrum of jet-cooled benzophenone due to the S/sub 1/(n,..pi../sup */) produced from S/sub 0/ transition has been measured. It was found that the spectrum consists exclusively of several long progressions of 60 cm/sup -1/ which is the in-phase torsional mode of the phenyl rings. The vibrational analysis and the potential calculation shows that the in the S/sub 1/(n,..pi../sup */) state great geometry changes occur in the dihedral angle between the phenyl rings, the C=O bond distance, and the C-C bonds adjacent to the C=O bond.