LIF spectroscopy of jet-cooled 1:1 complex between 7-azaindole and 2-pyrrolidinone

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of a 1:1 complex between 7-azaindole (7AI) and five-member cyclic amide 2-pyrrolidinone (2-PDN) have been measured in a supersonic free jet expansion. The bands in the excitation spectrum appear doublet, which has been attributed to splitting of the zero-point level in the ground state due to puckering of 2-PDN moiety of the complex in a symmetric double minimum potential. This feature is consistent with low puckering barrier (∼260 cm−1) predicted by electronic structure calculation. The complex emits only UV fluorescence from locally excited state in the jet, but visible tautomer fluorescence is observed in hydrocarbon solution.