Highly resolved electronic spectra and electronic structure of benzo[f]quinoxaline

Vibrational analysis of highly resolved phosphorescence (P), flourescence (F) and absorption spectra of benzof]quinoxaline (BQ) in Shpolskii matrices, at 77 K, was carried out. The spectra were dominated by phenanthrene-type fundamental vibrations. The appearance of several out-of-plane (op) modes in the P spectrum as well as the P lifetime, much shortened relative to that of the parent hydrocarbon, point to the proximity of the lowest n, π¹ and π, π¹ states of the BQ molecule. High activity of op modes in the F spectrum and complex structure of the absorption spectrum onset have been explained in terms of the pseudo-Jahn-Teller interaction between close-lying S₁ (π, π¹)and S₂(n, π¹) states.According to calculations of the BQ electronic structure, performed using a modified INDO CI method, the T₁(π, π¹)-T₂(n, π¹) and S₁(π, π¹-S₂(n, π¹) energy gaps are about 1200 and 700 cm^-1, respectively.