The S1 ← S0 fluorescence excitation spectrum and structure of propanal in the S1 excited electronic state

We have obtained and analyzed the S1 ← S0 fluorescence excitation spectra of jet-cooled propanal-h1 (CH3CH2CHO) and -d1 (CH3CH2CDO). Using the results of theoretical studies of the structure of propanal molecule in the S1 lowest excited singlet electronic state, we have assigned the bands of both spectra to the vibronic transitions of the cis conformer (in the S0 ground electronic state) to the 1 and 3 conformers (in the S1 state) differed by the angle of the C2H5 ethyl group rotation around the central C–C bond. The origins of the 1 ← cis and 3 ← cis electronic transitions have been observed at 29 997 and 30 075 cm−1 for propanal-h1 and at 30 040 and 30 115 cm−1 for propanal-d1, respectively. The high activity of torsional (C2H5 ethyl groups) and inversional (CCHO/CCDO carbonyl fragments) vibrations and the intensity distribution of the bands in torsional sequences (passing through maximum) are in agreement with the theoretical prediction that the S1 ← S0 electronic excitation of the cis conformer causes (after geometrical relaxation) the pyramidalization of carbonyl fragments and the rotation of ethyl groups around the central C–C bond. A number of energy levels have been found for torsional and inversional vibrations, and also fundamentals of ν10 (CCO bend) and ν13 (CCC bend) for the both 1 and 3 conformers of propanal-h1 and -d1 have been found. Then the “experimental” potential functions of inversion for the pair of the 1 and 3 conformers have been determined. The heights of potential barriers to inversion and the angle values corresponding to the minima of potential functions of inversion are 900 cm−1 and 35° for propanal-h1 and 820 cm−1 and 34° for propanal-d1, respectively.