Resonance Raman Spectroscopy, and Its Application to Inorganic Chemistry. New Analytical Methods (27)

Abstract Resonance Raman spectra are obtained when the wave number of the exciting radiation is close to, or coincident with, that of an electronic transition of the scattering species. Such spectra are usually characterized by a very large enhancement of the intensities of particular Raman bands, sometimes with the appearance of intense overtone and combination tone progressions. The technique provides detailed information about excited electronic states because it is only the vibrational modes associated with the chromophore that are resonance‐Raman active. Additionally, the high sensitivity is such that compounds at concentrations as low as 10 −6 mol/L may be detected, enabling resonance Raman spectroscopy to be used as an analytical tool and for the study of chromophores in molecules of biological interest.