Electronic Spectroscopy of Maleimide and Its Isoelectronic Molecules. II. Maleic Anhydride and 4‐Cyclopentene‐3,5‐dione

The electronic spectroscopy of maleic anhydride and 2,2‐dimethyl‐4‐cyclopentene‐3,5‐dione have been investigated in the vapor and solution phases. Each of these molecules exhibits two low‐intensity absorption bands in the region λ > 2300 A which are assigned as 1Γππ*←1Γ1 transitions. Each molecule possesses a high‐intensity absorption band at λ ≈ 2000 A which is assigned as a 1Γππ*←1Γ1 transition. Neither molecule exhibits any significant luminescence intensity. Vibrational analyses of the absorption bands are discussed and vacuum ultraviolet spectra are also presented.