Optical Absorption Spectra of the Homocyclic Sulfur Molecules S_n (<i>n</i> = 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 20) in Solution [1]

Abstract

Abstract The optical absorption spectra of the sulfur homocycles S n ( n = 6–10,12, 15, 20) in methanol or methylcyclohexane solution have been recorded in the region 200–360 nm using a conventional spectrophotometer as well as a diode‐array spectrophotometer. Each compound shows a characteristic absorption curve. The extinction coefficients at 254 nm increase with increasing ring size, and the lowest‐energy absorption maximum shifts to the red with increasing number of atoms in the molecule. The data are used to re‐interprete the published absorption spectra of liquid and irradiated sulfur.