Electronic Excited States of Monomers

Abstract

The fluorescence spectrum of tryptophan in aqueous solution (Fig. 1) is a broad structureless band with a maximum at 348 mμ and a half width of 60 mμ (Teale and Weber, 1957). The shape of the fluorescence spectrum of tryptophan and the position of the maximum are determined mainly by the indole ring of the molecule without any appreciable contribution from the substituent groups, since indole and its various derivatives—indplepropionic acid, tryptamine, serotonin—have practically the same fluorescence spectra.