Structure and conformational dynamics of the cyclopropanecarbaldehyde molecule in the ground (S<Superscript>b0</Superscript>) and lowest excited (T<Superscript>b1</Superscript> and S<Superscript>b1</Superscript>) electronic states

The structure and conformational dynamics of nonrigid cyclopropanecarbaldehyde (CPCA) molecule in the ground (S^b0) and lowest excited triplet (T^b1) and singlet (S^b1) electronic states were calculated using the MP2, DFT, CASSCF, CASPT2, and CCSD quantum chemical methods. According to ab initio calculations, in the S^b0 electronic state there are two symmetrical (cis and trans) conformers of the CPCA molecule. Excitation of the CPCA molecule to the ?1 and S1 electronic states causes significant structural changes: carbonyl CCHO fragment becomes nonplanar, cyclopropane fragment rotates around the C–C bond, thus changing the relative positions of the formyl and cyclopropane fragments. Using sections of the potential energy surfaces (PES) of the CPCA molecule in the T^b1 and S^b1 states, we calculated the torsion and inversion wave functions and vibrational transition energies. The results obtained suggest a strong coupling of the torsion and inversion motions in the T^b1 and S^b1 excited states.     

Theoretical electronic structure of the lowest-lying states of the YI molecule

CAS-SCF/MRCI calculations have been performed for 15 molecular states in the representation ^2S+1Λ^(+/−) (neglecting spin–orbit effects) for the molecule YI. The corresponding 33 molecular states in the representation Ω^(+/−) (including spin–orbit effects) have been calculated using a semi-empirical spin–orbit pseudopotential built up for yttrium. Calculated potential energy curves and spectroscopic constants are reported, to the best of our knowledge they are the first ones from ab initio methods for this molecule. Present results are compared to experimental accurate data available for the ground X¹Σ⁺ and 3 excited states (1)¹Π, (2)¹Σ⁺ and (2)¹Π.     

Excited‐State Dynamics of the Metal String Complex Co3(dpa)4(NCS)2 from Femtosecond Transient Absorption Spectra

Transient absorption spectroscopy is used to study the excited‐state dynamics of Co₃(dpa)₄(NCS)₂, where dpa is the ligand di(2‐pyridyl)amido. The ππ*, charge‐transfer, and d–d transition states are excited upon irradiation at wavelengths of 330, 400 and 600 nm, respectively. Similar transient spectra are observed under the experimental temporal resolution and the transient species show weak absorption. We thus propose that a low‐lying metal‐centered d–d state is accessed immediately after excitation. Analyses of the experimental kinetic traces reveal rapid conversion from the ligand‐centered ππ* and the charge‐transfer states to this metal‐centered d‐d state within 100 fs. The excited molecule then crosses to a second d–d state within the ligand‐field manifold, with a time coefficient of 0.6–1.4 ps. Because the ground‐state bleaching band recovers with a time coefficient of 10–23 ps, we propose that an excited molecule crosses from the low‐lying d–d state either directly within the same spin system or with spin crossing via the state ²B to the ground state ²A₂ (symmetry group C₄). In this trimetal string complex, relaxation to the ground electronic surface after excitation is thus rapid.     

Neutral Dissociation of Superexcited Nitric Oxide Induced by Intense Laser Fields

Superexcited states of NO molecule and their neutral dissociation processes have been stud-ied both experimentally and theoretically. Neutral excited N^? and O^? atoms are detected by fluorescence spectroscopy for the NO molecule upon interaction with 800 nm intense laser radiation of duration 60 fs and intensity 0.2 PW/cm². Intense laser pulse causes neu-tral dissociation of superexcited NO molecule by way of multiphoton excitation, which is equivalent to single photon excitation in the extreme-ultraviolet region by synchrotron ra-diation. Potential energy curves (PECs) are also built using the calculated superexcited state of NO⁺. In light of the PECs, direct dissociation and pre-dissociation mechanisms are proposed respectively for the neutral dissociation leading to excited fragments N^? and O^?.     

Restricted Conformational Flexibility of a Triphenylamine Derivative on the Formation of Host–Guest Complexes with Various Macrocyclic Hosts

Herein, we report the host–guest‐type complex formation between the host molecules cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]), β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD), and dibenzo[24]crown‐8 ether (DB24C8) and a newly synthesized triphenylamine (TPA) derivative 1 X₃ as the guest component. The host–guest complex formation was studied in detail by using ¹H NMR, 2D NOESY, UV/Vis fluorescence, and time‐resolved emission spectroscopy. The chloride salt of the TPA derivative was used for recognition studies with CB[7] and β‐CD in an aqueous medium. The restricted internal rotation of the guest molecule on complex formation with either of these two host molecules was reflected in the enhancement of the emission quantum yield and the average excited‐state lifetime for the triphenylamine‐based excited states. Studies with DB24C8 as the host molecule were performed in dichloromethane, a medium that maximizes the noncovalent interaction between the host and guest fragments. The Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) process involving DB24C8 and 1 (PF₆)₃, as the donor and acceptor fragments, respectively, was established by electrochemical, steady‐state emission, and time‐correlated single‐photon counting studies.     

Singlet and Triplet Excited States and Intersystem Crossing in Free‐Base Porphyrin: TDDFT and DFT/MRCI Study

Extensive time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) and DFT/multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) calculations are performed on the singlet and triplet excited states of free-base porphyrin, with emphasis on intersystem crossing processes. The equilibrium geometries, as well as the vertical and adiabatic excitation energies of the lowest singlet and triplet excited states are determined. Single and double proton-transfer reactions in the first excited singlet state are explored. Harmonic vibrational frequencies are calculated at the equilibrium geometries of the ground state and of the lowest singlet and triplet excited states. Furthermore, spin–orbit coupling matrix elements of the lowest singlet and triplet states and their numerical derivatives with respect to nuclear displacements are computed. It is shown that opening of an unprotonated pyrrole ring as well as excited-state single and double proton transfer inside the porphyrin cavity lead to crossings of the potential energy curves of the lowest singlet and triplet excited states. It is also found that displacements along out-of-plane normal modes of the first excited singlet state cause a significant increase of the 2|H_so|S₁>, 1|H_so|S₁>, and 1|H_so|S₀> spin–orbit coupling matrix elements. These phenomena lead to efficient radiationless deactivation of the lowest excited states of free-base porphyrin via intercombination conversion. In particular, the S₁→T₁ population transfer is found to proceed at a rate of ≈10⁷ s⁻¹ in the isolated molecule.     

Charge transfer and curve crossings in the [BeH2O]2+ system

Summary Diabatic and adiabatic potential energy curves have been determined for the complexation of beryllium cation with a water molecule, by means of multi-reference perturbation CI. The quasi-diabatic states correspond to Be²⁺H₂O and to nine charge transfer states (Be⁺H₂O⁺): at short beryllium-water distances the ground state is essentially Be²⁺H₂O, but at large distances several charge transfer states have lower energies. The nature of the curve crossings of the ground and lowest excited states in the [BeH₂O]²⁺ system is clarified. The changes brought about by the presence of a second water molecule are investigated.     

Molecular electric properties in electronic excited states: multipole moments and polarizabilities of H2O in the lowest1 B 1 and3 B 1 excited states

Summary The dipole and quadrupole moments and the dipole polarizability tensor components are calculated for the¹ B ₁ and³ B ₁ excited states of the water molecule by using the complete active space (CAS) SCF method and an extended basis set of atomic natural orbitals. The dipole moment in the lowest¹ B ₁ (0.640 a.u.) and³ B ₁ (0.416 a.u.) states is found to be antiparallel to that in the ground electronic state of H₂O. The shape of the quadrupole moment ellipsoid is significantly modified by the electronic excitation to both states investigated in this paper. All components of the excited state dipole polarizability tensor increase by about an order of magnitude compared to their values in the ground electronic state. The present results are used to discuss some aspects of intermolecular interactions involving molecules in their excited electronic states.     

An ab initio study of electronic spectra and excited-state properties of 7-azaindole in vapour phase and aqueous solution

The geometries of 7-azaindole (7AI), its tautomer (7AT), and 7AI–H₂O and 7AT–H₂O complexes were optimised in the ground state and some low-lying singlet excited states using the 3-21G basis set. Differences of total energies of the optimised ground and excited states and the vertical excitation energies of these systems were used to explain the observed electronic spectra. Effect of solvation of these systems in bulk water was studied using the polarized continuum model (PCM). The mode of binding of a water molecule in the S₂(n–π^*) excited state of 7AI was found to be quite different from those in its ground and π–π^* excited states. It is shown that crossing of the lowest two singlet excited-state potential surfaces S₁(π–π^*) and S₂(n–π^*) of 7AI occurs in the vapour phase under geometry relaxation while on interaction with water, the S₂(n–π^*) excited state is raised up appreciably going even above the S₃(π–π^*) excited state. Ground- and excited-state molecular electrostatic potential mapping was carried out, which led to valuable information regarding the nature of excited states of the above-mentioned systems.     

Interaction of O+ ion with water molecules: A quantum-chemical study

The interaction of O⁺ ion with several (from one to four) water molecules was studied by theab initio (UMP4/4-31G^*) and semiempirical (AM1) quantum-chemical methods. It was found that the energy of binding the O⁺ ion to the first water molecule is appreciably higher than those of binding to the subsequent water molecules. In the complex with a water molecule, whose structure corresponds to that of water oxide, the O⁺ ion retains high reactivity. The barrier to the transfer of O⁺ ion to another water molecule is much lower than the barrier to analogous transfer of O atom from the molecule of water oxide, despite the lower dissociation energy of the H₂O−O bond. Consideration of subsequent interactions with water molecules leads to an increase in the barrier to the transfer of O⁺ ion. The doublet and quadruplet excited states of the O⁺+2 H₂O system were also studied. In these cases, the formation energies are well described by the ion-dipole model. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 981–988, June, 2000.     

A Valence Bond Study of the Low‐Lying States of the NF Molecule

The electronic structures of the three lowest‐lying states of NF are investigated by means of modern valence bond (VB) methods such as the VB self‐consistent field (VBSCF), breathing orbital VB (BOVB), and VB configuration interaction (VBCI) methods. The wave functions for the three states are expressed in terms of 9–12 VB structures, which can be further condensed into three or four classical Lewis structures, whose weights are quantitatively estimated. Despite the compactness of the wave functions, the BOVB and VBCI methods reproduce the spectroscopic properties and dipole moments of the three states well, in good agreement with previous computational studies and experimental values. By analogy to the isoelectronic O₂ molecule, the ground state ³Σ^? possesses both a σ bond and 3‐electron π bonds. However, here the polar σ bond contributes the most to the overall bonding. It is augmented by a fractional (19 %) contribution of three‐electron π bonding that arises from π charge transfer from fluorine to nitrogen. In the singlet ¹Δ and ¹Σ⁺ excited states the π‐bonding component is classically covalent, and it contributes 28 % and 37 % to the overall bonding picture for the two states, respectively. The resonance energies are calculated and reveal that π bonding contributes at least 24, 35 and 42 kcal mol^?1 to the total bonding energies of the ³Σ^?, ¹Δ and ¹Σ⁺ states, respectively. Some unusual properties of the NF molecule, like the equilibrium distance shortening and bonding energy increasing upon excitation, the counterintuitive values of the dipole moments and the reversal of the dipole moments as the bond is stretched, are interpreted in the light of the simple valence bond picture. The overall polarity of the molecule is very small in the ground state, and is opposite to the relative electronegativity of N vs F in the singlet excited states. The values of the dipole moments in the three states are quantitatively accounted for by the calculated weights of the VB structures.     

Oxidation of 7-ethyl-2,3,5,6,8-pentahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (echinochrome A) by atmospheric oxygen 1. Structure of dehydroechinochrome

The nondestructive oxidation of 7-ethyl-2,3,5,6,8-pentahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone by atmospheric oxygen in the ground (triplet ³Σ_g^–) and excited (singlet ¹Δ_g) states in different solvents (acetone, dioxane, ethanol, aqueous ethanol, water) at room temperature involves the initial formation of 7-ethyl-5,6,8-trihydroxy-2,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1,4-naphthoquinone (dehydroechinochrome) accompanied by the release of an H₂O₂ molecule into the reaction medium. Dehydroechinochrome, being highly susceptible to hydration, successively reacts with two H₂O molecules to form 7-ethyl-2,2,3,3,5,6,8-heptahydroxy-2,3-dihydro- 1,4-naphthoquinone as the relatively stable final product. In this form, it can be isolated from the mixture of reaction products.     

Density of states due to donor-pair molecules in three- and two-dimensional semiconductor systems

The density of states is calculated for a random distribution of donor-pairs of hydrogenlike impurities in three- and two-dimensional systems. Recent investigations of the hydrogen molecule in the alternant–molecular–orbital approximation are here extended. We found that the lowest excited state ¹Σu (i.e., H⁺H^?), which is optically connected to the ground state, plays a relevant role in the absorption spectra of semiconductor systems.     

Theoretical investigation of the character of the electronic states of H2O along a linear dissociation path leading to OH + H

A series of MRD CI calculations is presented for the linear asymmetric dissociation of singlet states of the water molecule. The present calculations complement previous work on H₂O, providing further information on conical intersections in the higher excited states and on the nature and dissociation limits of the third ¹A' state in C_s symmetry, which is shown to correlate with the ion-pair limit (OH⁻ +H⁺). At large distances the ion-pair state is no longer the third ¹A' species as other states, corresponding to the OH(X ²Π) + H(2s,2p) dissociation limit, are then lower in energy.     

Integrating proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) and excited states

In many of the chemical steps in photosynthesis and artificial photosynthesis, proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) plays an essential role. An important issue is how excited state reactivity can be integrated with PCET to carry out solar fuel reactions such as water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen or water reduction of CO₂ to methanol or hydrocarbons. The principles behind PCET and concerted electron–proton transfer (EPT) pathways are reasonably well understood. In Photosystem II antenna light absorption is followed by sensitization of chlorophyll P₆₈₀ and electron transfer quenching to give P₆₈₀⁺. The oxidized chlorophyll activates the oxygen evolving complex (OEC), a CaMn₄ cluster, through an intervening tyrosine–histidine pair, Y_Z. EPT plays a major role in a series of four activation steps that ultimately result in loss of 4e^?/4H⁺ from the OEC with oxygen evolution. The key elements in photosynthesis and artificial photosynthesis – light absorption, excited state energy and electron transfer, electron transfer activation of multiple-electron, multiple-proton catalysis – can also be assembled in dye sensitized photoelectrochemical synthesis cells (DS-PEC). In this approach, molecular or nanoscale assemblies are incorporated at separate electrodes for coupled, light driven oxidation and reduction. Separate excited state electron transfer followed by proton transfer can be combined in single semi-concerted steps (photo-EPT) by photolysis of organic charge transfer excited states with H-bonded bases or in metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited states in pre-associated assemblies with H-bonded electron transfer donors or acceptors. In these assemblies, photochemically induced electron and proton transfer occur in a single, semi-concerted event to give high-energy, redox active intermediates.     

The Low‐Lying Excited States of 2,2′‐Bithiophene: A Theoretical Analysis

The low‐energy regions of the singlet→singlet, singlet→triplet, and triplet→triplet electronic spectra of 2,2′‐bithiophene are studied using multiconfigurational second‐order perturbation theory (CASPT2) and extended atomic natural orbitals (ANO) basis sets. The computed vertical, adiabatic, and emission transition energies are in agreement with the available experimental data. The two lowest singlet excited states, 1¹B_u and 2¹B_u, are computed to be degenerate, a novel feature of the system to be borne in mind during the rationalization of its photophysics. As regards the observed high triplet quantum yield of the molecule, it is concluded that the triplet states 2³A_g and 2³B_u, separated about 0.4 eV from the two lowest singlet excited states, can be populated by intersystem crossing from nonplanar singlet states.     

Penning ionization optical spectroscopy: Metastable helium (He23S) with nitric oxide

The interaction between NO(X²π) and metastable He(2³S) atoms has been investigated by emission spectrometry. Several reaction channels have been identified, leading to NO⁺(A¹π), or to electronically excited N or O atoms. The NO⁺(A⁺π-X¹Σ⁺) banded emission spectrum was observed in the range 123-190 nm, and it was analyzed for vibrational and rotational populations. The NO⁺(A) state vibrational distribution, determined with a new set of Franck—Condon factors for NO⁺(A–X), is in approximate accord with the calculated NO⁺ (A) - NO(X) Franck—Condon (FC) factors; however the υ' = 2 – 5 levels are overpopulated relative to the FC values. The NO⁺(A) state rotational populations are shifted to higher J-values than the precursor, NO(X). Emission was observed from several excited states of O and N in both the vacuum ultraviolet and red regions of the spectrum. Comparison of total rates from excited atomic fragments with emissions from NO⁺(A) showed that the cross-section for dissociative excitation was similar to that for Penning ionization giving NO⁺(A).     

Spectral-kinetic characteristics of lutetium-containing tetrapyrroles

The spectral-kinetic characteristics of the triplet states of tetraphenylporphyrin and triphenylcorrole complexes with an aminopolycarboxylic acid (EDTA or DTPA) or its complex with lutetium as a substitute and the corrole complex with Ga(III) as the central atom have been studied. The transient absorption spectra of the complexes in the triplet excited state (effective maximum at 460–470 nm) and the rate constants of triplet quenching by oxygen at room temperature (2 × 10⁸–7 × 10⁸ L mol^?1 s^?1) have been measured. The quantum yields (0.44–0.55) and the molar absorption coefficients of the triplet state (log ?_T = 4.81–4.89) have been determined for some of the derivatives. The efficiency of population and deactivation kinetics of the triplet states are determined by the structure of the porphyrinoid, in particular by the central ion, and depends slightly on the presence of a heavy atom at the periphery of the molecule. Possible uses of the new compounds for designing various optical devices are discussed.     

Rydberg states in fluorinated benzenes; hexa-, penta-, and monofluorobenzene

Spectra of fluorobenzene (FB), pentafluorobenzene (PFB) and hexafluorobenzene (HFB) from 50000 to 93000 cm⁻¹ are presented. Rydberg series converging to the first and to a higher ionization limit are found in each molecule. The orbital natures of the excited states and ions are discussed.