On the UV spectrum of cross-conjugated 2,3-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene

► UV spectrum of cross-conjugated compound 2,3-diphenylbutadiene studied with ZINDO calculations. ► Limited difference with the UV spectrum of styrene. ► Dependence of the electronic spectrum on the molecular conformation. ► Coulomb and electron exchange terms are important in the UV spectrum. ► UV spectrum is hardly indicative of conjugation.