The electronic absorption spectrum of matrix-isolated phenyl radical has be
en determined in the entire 52000-4000 cm(-1) region. It consists of three
band systems corresponding to transitions to three excited electronic state
s: B-2(1), with origin at 510.5 nm/2.43 eV (epsilon = 2.8 L mol(-1) cm(-1))
; (2)A(1), with lambda(max) = 235.1 nm/5.27 eV (epsilon = 220 L mol(-1) cm(
-1)), and B-2(2) with the origin at 211.5 nm/5.86 eV (epsilon = 1650 L mol(
-1) cm(-1)). These transitions are attributed to the phenyl radical on the
basis of the strict correlation of their intensity evolution in simultaneou
sly measured IR and UV-visible spectra. Consistent results were obtained fr
om several independent precursors. The transition symmetries were derived f
rom polarization measurements on photo-oriented samples. (C) 1999 Elsevier
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