I Introduction: Assignment Criteria

1. Transition energy
2. Oscillator strength
3. Transition moment direction
4. Magnetic circular dichroism
5. Substituent effects
6. Less general criteria
II Experimental Techniques
1. The stretched sheet method
2. Electric fields
3. Magnetic fields
4. Hydrodynamic shear
5. Crystal methods
6. Liquid crystal methods
7. Photoselection
III Interpretation of the Observed Spectra
1. Vibronic interactions
2. Interpretation of LD-spectra. Absolute moment directions
3. The description of a partially oriented uniaxial sample
4. Determination of reduced spectra for symmetrical molecules
5. The orientation triangle
6. Orientation models
7. Interpretation of LD-data for low symmetry molecules
8. Identical chromophores in different molecules
9. Non-uniaxial samples
10. Interpretation of MCD-spectra
IV Theoretical Models
1. The ?-electron approximation
2. Semiempirical calculations
3. Calculation of MCD B-terms. Alternant hydrocarbons
4. MCD of derivatives of alternant hydrocarbons
5. Summary
V Examples of LD and MCD Spectra and Spectral Assignments
1. Fluoranthene
2. Thiophene
3. Acenaphthylene
4. p-Terphenyl
VI Conclusions
1. The assignment process
2. Interpretation of LD spectra
3. Theoretical descriptions of electronic transitions
4. New applications of MCD spectroscopy
Acknowledgment
References.