An ab initio calculation of the properties of the ground state and som
e low-lying electronic states of indene is reported. The results are c
ompared with experimental data obtained by infrared and Raman spectros
copy, and with a recent fluorescence and resonance enhanced multiphoto
n ionization spectra obtained in a supersonic jet. The results show th
at the configuration interaction singles method can be used as a good
approximation to calculate the molecular frequencies of the electronic
ally excited states. It is found that as in other small aromatic molec
ules, the frequencies of out-of-plane modes tend to decrease, while th
ose of in-plane ones are not changed significantly, except for a Kekul
e type vibration, that shows a dramatic increase in the S-1 state. In
contrast with the S-1 state, which is found to be bound, the S-2 State
is reactive. This is compatible with the diffuse absorption spectrum
and the photochemical activity of this state. These results are compar
ed with a similar recent study of styrene.