The electronic absorption spectra of some coumarins. A molecular orbital treatment

The electronic absorption spectra of coumarin and its derivatives umbelliferone (6-hydroxycoumarin), esculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin), and scopoletin (6-methoxy-7-hydroxycoumarin) were investigated. The n → π* transition was not observed in the spectrum of coumarin but was observed in the spectra of some of its derivatives. Molecular orbital calculations, using the INDO procedures, were carried out on coumarin and some of its derivatives. The activities of the different sites of the molecules are discussed in terms of the coefficients of the atomic orbitals constituting the HOMO and the LUMO. The correspondence between the calculated and experimental transition energy and band intensity is satisfactory.