Abstract

The laser-induced fluorescence spectra of a number of free radicals—o-, m-, and p-methyl benzyl, di- and triphenylmethyl, diphenylchloromethyl, and diphenylethyl—have been observed when these materials were cooled to near absolute zero in a free-jet expansion. Barriers to methyl rotation in both the ground and lowest excited electronic states have been determined for the substituted methyl radicals. Significant information is presented regarding these radicals' geometries and ring-twisting motions.

© 1990 Optical Society of America