The study of the intramolecular heavy atom effect in 9,10-dichlorophenanthrene and 1,2,3,4-tetrachloronaphthalene using PMDR techniques

Using PMDR techniques, the top two zero-field triplet levels in 9,10-dichlorophenanthrene and 1,2,3,4-tetrachloronaphthalene are shown to be most favoured by S₁ → T₁ ISC and T₁ → S₀ phosphorescence. Spin—orbit vibronic coupling via CCl out-of-plane modes and static distortions of the heavy atom are responsible for such behaviour respectively.