Vibrational and electronic spectra of (benzene–benzyl alcohol)+: Predominance of charge resonance interaction over hydrogen-bonding interaction

Vibrational and electronic spectra of the benzene–benzyl alcohol hetero-dimer ion are measured by photodissociation spectroscopy. The vibrational spectrum shows a prominent band at 3662±3 cm−1, which is assigned to the stretching vibration of the OH group free from intermolecular perturbations. The electronic spectrum shows a broad band around 950 nm, which arises from a charge resonance interaction between the aromatic rings. These results suggest that the ion has a sandwich-like structure suitable for the resonance interaction, without the hydrogen bond between the OH group of benzyl alcohol and the π-electrons of benzene.