Theoretical study on the structure and UV–visible spectrum of pyridine–chloranil charge-transfer complex

The ground-state structure of the charge-transfer complex formed by pyridine (Py) as electron donor and chloranil (CA) as acceptor has been studied by full geometry optimization at the MP2 and DFT levels of theory. Binding energies were calculated and counterpoise corrections were used to correct the BSSE. Both MP2 and DFT indicate that the pyridine binds with chloranil to form an inclined T-shape structure, with the pyridine plane perpendicular to the chloranil. The CP and ZPE corrected binding energies were calculated to be 14.21 kJ/mol by PBEPBE/6-31G(d) and 23.21 kJ/mol by MP2/6-31G(d). The charge distribution of the ground state Py–CA complex was evaluated with the natural population analysis, showing a net charge transfer from Py to CA. Analysis of the frontier molecular orbitals reveals a σ–π interaction between CA and Py, and the binding is reinforced by the attraction of the O₇ atom of CA with the H₂₃ atom of Py. TD-DFT calculations have been performed to analyze the UV–visible spectrum of Py–CA complex, revealing both the charge transfer transitions and the weak symmetry-relieved chloranil π–π^* transition in the UV–visible region.     

Peculiarities of the excitation energy transfer in europium and terbium aromatic carboxylates and nitrate complexes with sulfoxides: Blocking effect

The influence of modification of the aromatic ligands on the excitation energy transfer to Ln³⁺ ions in europium and terbium carboxylates and nitrates was examined. The luminescence excitation spectra of three groups of the europium and terbium compounds: phenyl-, diphenyl-, triphenylacetates, phenoxyacetates and triphenylpropionates; 1- and 2-naphthylcarboxylates and 2-naphthoxyacetates; lanthanide nitrates with diarylsulfoxides (diphenyl- and dibenzylsulfoxides) and dialkylsulfoxides were investigated. The spectra of adducts of terbium phenylcarboxylates with 1,10-phenanthroline were also analyzed. The effect of the aliphatic bridges, which decouple the π–π- or p–π-conjugation in the ligand, on the energy transfer to Ln³⁺ ions (so-called blocking effect) was investigated. It was shown, that this decoupling leads to significant lowering of the energy of “ligand–metal ion” charge transfer states (LM CTS) in the europium carboxylate salts, just down to 27,800 cm⁻¹ in europium 2-naphthoxyacetate. As a consequence, the probability of the LM CTS participation in the excitation energy dissipation processes increases. A channel of the excitation energy dissipation in the region of 31,750 cm⁻¹ related to ligand electronic transitions was found in the europium and terbium nitrates with sulfoxides. It was demonstrated that a part of the energy absorbed by the aromatic ligand having aliphatic bridge can be emitted as the ligand fluorescence.     

Quantum mechanical study of tautomerism of methimazole and the stability of methimazole–I2 complexes

DFT and ab initio theoretical methods were used to calculate the relative stability of tautomers in the methimazole (MMI). The calculations show that the thione form of MMI 1 is more stable than the thiol tautomer in good agreement with the experimental results. The DFT and ab initio calculations were also used to determine the stability of MMI–I₂ complexes. All methods suggest that the methimazole in the MMI–I₂ complex exists almost exclusively as the thione tautomer. The Gibbs free energy difference between planar and perpendicular forms of thione tautomer of MMI–I₂ complex indicates that the planar form is the predominant complex. The counterpoise corrected Gibbs free energy also shows that the MMI–I₂(plan.) complex is more stable than the MMI–I₂(perp.) complex. These predictions are in good agreement with the experimental results. By using the natural bond orbital (NBO) approach, the effects of charge transfer interactions on the stability of MMI–I₂ complexes were investigated. The LP₃(S)→σ*(I–I) and LP₃(I)→σ*(N–H) charge transfer interactions may be very important in the stability of the planar form. The results show that the LP₃(S)→σ*(I–I) charge transfer interaction causes a greater increase in the σ*(I–I) antibond occupation number, and concomitantly, a greater increase in the corresponding I–I bond length in the planar complex with respect to the perpendicular complex. The LP₃(S)→σ*(I–I) charge transfer interaction is assisted by NHI intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The atom in molecule (AIM) analysis shows that the charge density and its Laplacian at the SI bond critical point of the planar complex is greater than the perpendicular complex.     

Semiempirical SCF/CI interpretation of the origin of the catalytic activity of transition metal-macrocycle complexes

Semiempirical self-consistent field (SCF) and configuration interaction (CI) calculations of the intermediate neglect of differential overlap (INDO) type are applied to the analysis of the electronic transitions of the hexaazacyclophane base and its Ni and Cu complexes. The ground states (¹A_g for the ligand and Ni complex, ²B_1g for the Cu complex) are planar structures of D₂h symmetry. The low-energy region of the UV-visible spectra, whose analysis may help to recognize the catalytic active sites of the complexes is associated with d → d transitions in the Ni complex, and M → L charge transfer in the Cu complex.     

Role of structural flexibility in the fluorescence and photochromism of salicylideneaniline: the general scheme of the phototransformations

The mechanism of light-induced transformation in the salicylideneaniline molecule was studied by semiempirical PM3 calculations. The structures and energies of the minima and saddle points (transition states) on the S₀, S₁ and T₁ potential energy hypersurfaces (PESs) were obtained, together with the gradient lines on the PESs. The structure-energy scheme was compared with the experimental findings. According to the results obtained, the following principle processes are observed: fast S₁ excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), followed by typical ESIPT fluorescence; the formation of two S₁ twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) structures which quench the ESIPT fluorescence; the diabatic formation of two ground state metastable coloured “post-TICT” structures responsible for photochromism.     

Time-dependent density functional study of the electronic spectra of oligoacenes in the charge states −1, 0, +1, and +2

We present a systematic theoretical study of the five smallest oligoacenes (naphthalene, anthracene, tetracene, pentacene, and hexacene) in their anionic, neutral, cationic, and dicationic charge states. We used density functional theory (DFT) to obtain the ground-state optimised geometries, and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) to evaluate the electronic absorption spectra. Total-energy differences enabled us to evaluate the electron affinities and first and second ionisation energies, the quasiparticle correction to the HOMO–LUMO energy gap and an estimate of the excitonic effects in the neutral molecules. Electronic absorption spectra have been computed by combining two different implementations of TD-DFT: the frequency–space method to study general trends as a function of charge-state and molecular size for the lowest-lying in-plane long-polarised and short-polarised π → π^* electronic transitions, and the real-time propagation scheme to obtain the whole photo-absorption cross-section up to the far-UV. Doubly ionised PAHs are found to display strong electronic transitions of π → π^* character in the near-IR, visible, and near-UV spectral ranges, like their singly charged counterparts. While, as expected, the broad plasmon-like structure with its maximum at about 17–18 eV is relatively insensitive to the charge-state of the molecule, a systematic decrease with increasing positive charge of the absorption cross-section between 6 and 12 eV is observed for each member of the class.     

All electron ab initio investigations of the electronic states of the MoN molecule

The low lying electronic states of the molecule MoN were investigated by performing all electron ab initio multi-configuration self-consistent-field (CASSCF) calculations. The relativistic corrections for the one electron Darwin contact term and the relativistic mass-velocity correction were determined in perturbation calculations. The electronic ground state is confirmed as being ⁴∑⁻. The chemical bond of MoN has a triple bond character because of the approximately fully occupied delocalized bonding π and σ orbitals. The spectroscopic constants for the ground state and ten excited states were derived. The excited doublet states ²∑⁻, ²Γ, ²Δ, and ²∑⁺ are found to be lower lying than the ⁴Π state that was investigated experimentally. Elaborate multi-configuration configuration-interaction (MRCI) calculations were carried out for the states ⁴∑⁻ and ⁴∏ using various basis sets. The spectroscopic constants for the ⁴∑⁻ ground state were determined as r_e=1.636 Å and ω_e=1109 cm⁻¹, and for the ⁴∏ state as r_e=1.662 Å and ω_e=941 cm⁻¹. The values for the ground state are in excellent agreement with available experimental data. The MoN molecule is polar with a charge transfer from Mo to N. The dipole moment was determined as 2.11 D in the ⁴∑⁻ state and as 4.60 D in the ⁴∏ state. These values agree well with the revised experimental values determined from molecular Stark spectroscopic measurements. The dissociation energy, D_e, is determined as 5.17 eV, and D₀ as 5.10 eV.     

Many-body calculation of the core hole spectra of PdCO

To investigate the dependence of ligand (adsorbate) core hole spectra on the electronic structure of the metal substrate, we performed ab initio 2h1p and 2h2p/3h2p CI calculations of the core hole spectra of the linear PdCO molecule using an extended basis set. The main line is the one-hole state and takes a much larger intensity than for NiCO and NiN₂ but still smaller than for free CO. As in the case of NiCO and NiN₂, also for PdCO the π charge transfer (CT) shakeup satellite of a small intensity is obtained near the main line peak. The most striking spectral feature of PdCO which differs from NiCO and NiN₂ is the absence of the 5 eV giant σ shakeup satellite in the carbon spectrum. In the oxygen spectrum the corresponding satellite of a small satellite intensity, is shifted toward the higher energy (around 8 eV). However, with an increase of the bond length this satellite also disappears. As in the case of NiCO, the π to π^* shakeup satellites are obtained around 9 eV for both carbon and oxygen spectra. These dramatic spectral feature changes are explained in terms of the different degree of the dσ-s hybridization and s-dσ promotion in the local metal configuration in the ground and ionized states. We point out the possibility that the DES spectrum becomes similar to the AES spectrum in the spectator Auger decay energy region even when initial core hole state differs.     

Vibrational dependence of the NH3 (v2)+NO and NO(v)+NH3 charge transfer cross sections

A tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer is used to study the charge transfer reactions NH₃⁺ + NO and NO⁺ + NH₃ over a collision energy range 1.5–13 eV. The vibrational state of the reagent ions is selected by resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization. For the 0.9 eV exothermic process NH₃⁺ + NO → NH₃ + NO⁺ excitation of the v₂ umbrella bending mode (v₂ = 0–12) causes no marked change in the charge transfer cross section, while in the reverse process NO⁺ + NH₃ → NO + NH₃⁺ excitation of the NO⁺ vibration (v = 0–6) strongly enhanced the charge transfer cross section.     

Mössbauer spectra of mixed-valence dimeric iron clusters in charge-ordered crystals

The theory of charge ordering and phase transitions in molecular crystals consisting of dimeric mixed-valence iron clusters is developed. It is supposed that the cluster contains high-spin Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions. The model employed involves intracluster Heisenberg-type exchange interaction between iron ions, “extra” electron transfer (double exchange), as well as dipole-dipole intercluster interaction. It is shown that depending on the parameters of the abovementioned interactions three types of order parameter (the mean value of the crystal dipole moment) temperature dependence are possible. These types of dependences lead to one-, two- and three-phase transitions. The mechanism of temperature transitions of the type of “localization-delocalization” in the Mössbauer spectra of mixed valence crystals is discussed. It is shown that at low temperatures spectra with averaged parameters may exist.     

Vibrational relaxation of NO(XΠ, υ = 1) studied by an IR-UV-double-resonance technique

Pulses from a mechanically chopped CO-laser were used to optically pump the first vibrational level of NO molecules in their fundamental band near 5.3 μm. The population of NO (υ = 1) was followed by measuring the resonance fluorescence of NO-γ-bands from a microwave discharge lamp in the UV region. Analysis of the first order decays of NO(υ = 1) following the excitation pulses yielded rate constants for V---T and V---V energy transfer processes in collisions of NO(υ = 1) with ground state NO and added gas molecules He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, H₂, HD, D₂, N₂, O₂ and N₂O.     

Electronic states of PN obtained by configuration-interaction studies

Potential curves were calculated for eighteen low-lying doublet and quartet states of PN⁺, using configuration-interaction methods and double-zeta plus polarization and diffuse basis sets. Spectroscopic constants were evaluated for fourteen stable states. The X ²Σ⁺ ground state lies very close to A ²Π (0.34 eV calculated). The 2 ²Σ⁺ state has two shallow minima of similar energy, being due to σ* → σ at smaller R, and π → π* at larger R. For N₂⁺, σ* → σ is much lower in energy than π → π*, whereas the opposite situation applies to P₂⁺.     

The dependence of photoinduced energy transfer on the orientation of the acceptor with respect to the π-plane of the donor in naphthalene-linked crown ether–Tb complexes

The photoinduced energy transfer (ET) from naphthalene (N) to Tb³⁺ has been studied in the complexes of Tb³⁺ ion with 2,3-naphtho-17-crown-5 ether(I), 2,3-naphtho-20-crown-6 ether(II), 1,8-naphtho-21-crown-6 ether(III) and 1,5-naphtho-22-crown-6 ether(IV), respectively, using nitrate (NO₃⁻) ion as the counter anion in EtOH glass at 77 K. The ligands are so designed that the Tb³⁺ ion can be complexed with a predetermined orientation with respect to the naphthalene molecular plane. In systems I and II, the Tb³⁺ ion is along the Z-axis; in system III, it is along the Y-axis and in IV, it is along the X-axis, where Z- and Y- are the molecular in-plane long and short axes of the naphthalene molecular plane respectively and X- is the out-of plane axis perpendicular to the naphthalene molecular plane. Present studies indicate that the efficiency of energy transfer (ET) and the quenching of naphthalene phosphorescence show a strong dependence on the orientation of the acceptor metal ion (Tb³⁺) with respect to the π-plane of the donor naphthalene moiety. The ET studies suggest that an exchange mechanism involving the lowest (ππ^*) triplet state of N and the ⁵D₄ state of Tb³⁺ ion is predominantly operating. Our observation further indicates that for a given orientation in a complex the emission intensity of the various transitions (⁵D₄ → ⁷F_J, J=2–6) for Tb³⁺, vis-a-vis ET efficiency varies considerably with ΔJ values (=0, +1 and +2).     

The potential energy surfaces and the radiationless dynamics of excited states of benzene and pyrazine

The potential energy surfaces of the lowest excited states of benzene and pyrazine are investigated as a function of some of the symmetry-adapted internal coordinates by means of the INDO/S method. A large stabilization of the T₂ (ππ*) state of pyrazine (≈ 0.5 eV) along the S_8b vibrational coordinate is found. The calculated potential energy in some excited states (T₁ in benzene, T₂ and S₂ in pyrazine) is a very flat function of the S_16b vibrational coordinate, leading to a crossing with the potential energy of the ground state at relatively small excess of vibrational energy (≈ 1 eV). Thus the ν_16b vibrational mode is postulated to play an important role in the radiationless relaxation to the ground states of these systems. No such crossing has been found near the “channel three” threshold of benzene.     

The triple fluorescence of benzanilide and the dielectric medium modulation of its competitive excitation

The fluorescence of the benzanilide molecule at 298 K is inferred to consist of three independent electronic transitions associated with the single ground-state molecular species. F₁ (λ_max340 nm), the normal fluorescence is observed weakly and is ascribed to an n,π*,-π,π* mixed state. F′₂ is ascribed to the proton-transfer imidol tautomer fluorescence (previously reported) with unresolved λ_max (inferred at ≈460 nm). F″₂ is ascribed to a charge-transfer state fluorescence to the ground state, and occurs as a resolved CT transition in tetrahydrofuran at λ_max 520 nm. Comparison of the spectra of N-methylbenzanilide exhibiting only F₁ and F″₂ (CT) permitted the analysis of the benzanilide spectra.     

Electroabsorption study of metal-to-ligand charge transfer in an organic complex of iridium (III)

The dipole moment and polarizability changes have been determined from electroabsorption (EA) spectroscopy of solid films of fac tris(2-(phenyl)pyridinato,N,C^2′)iridium (III) [Ir(ppy)₃]. The maximum changes in the dipole moment |Δμ|_S=(5.0±0.5) D/f (f is the local field correction factor: 1.3–1.7) accompany ground state to the lowest singlet, and |Δμ|_T=(1.7±0.5) D/f ground state to the lowest triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited states formation, while the average polarizability change ų/f² follows from the fitting procedure throughout the visible absorption spectrum range. The experimental values of |Δμ| as well as energy positions of the MLCT states correlate with the literature results of time-dependent density functional theory.     

A combined experimental and theoretical study on photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer in trans-ethyl p-(dimethylamino)cinamate

Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) behavior of trans-ethyl p-(dimethylamino)cinamate (EDAC) in various solvents has been studied by steady-state absorption and emission, picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and femtosecond transient absorption experiments as well as time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Large fluorescence spectral shift in more polar solvents indicates an efficient charge transfer from the donor site to the acceptor moiety in the excited state compared to the ground state. The energy for 0,0 transition (ν_0,0) for EDAC shows very good linear correlation with static solvent dielectric property. The relaxation dynamics of EDAC in the excited state can be effectively described by a “three state” model where, the locally excited (LE) state converts into the ICT state within 350 ± 100 fs. A combination of solvent reorganization and intramolecular vibrational relaxation within 0.5–6 ps populates the relaxed ICT state which undergoes fluorescence decay within few tens to hundreds of picoseconds.     

Ab initio and post-ab initio quantum chemical study of the heme spin states in electron transfer reactions

Quantum-chemical calculations of neutral and charged ironporphyrin (FeP, FeP⁺¹ and FeP⁻) systems were performed using B3LYP and MP2 methods. It was shown that all ground states of FeP (S = 1), FeP⁺¹ (S = 3/2) and FeP⁻ (S = 1/2) systems have C_2v symmetry. During the first step of electron transfer process an electron goes to β-LUMO − 1 Fe d_yz-orbital of FeP⁺¹. The second electron goes to β-LUMO of FeP which is attributed to π-system of porphyrin ring. The 3s- and 3p-orbitals do not play a significant role in the electron transfer process. The ability of FeP⁻¹ system to form π-dative chemical bond is low. The formation of π–π-complexes is preferable.     

Electron transfer in porphyrin—quinone cyclophanes studied on the pico- and femto-second time scale

Electron transfer in porphyrin—quinone cyclophanes is investigated by fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy with pico- and femto-second pulses. In nonpolar solvents, the S₁ state of the porphyrin shows a lifetime from 300 ps up to several nanoseconds, depending upon the number of quinones and upon their electron affinity. Comparative measurements in polar solvents demonstrate very fast electron transfer on a time scale between 1 and 10 ps. The results are analyzed with the aid of quantum-chemical calculations which give the energy of the charge transfer states and the relevant coupling strengths. For nonpolar solvents, theory suggests fluctuation-induced charge separation and/or direct radiationless internal conversion from the porphyrin S₁ to the ground state. In polar solution, the molecules exist in a tilted configuration with strong electronic coupling and charge transfer states well below the S₁ level, resulting in fast electron transfer and subsequent charge recombination within 10–40 ps.     

A theoretical study of the excited electronic states of the SiCN system

Ab initio methods have been used to study the lowest-lying electronic states of the SiCN radical, which has two stable linear isomers in its electronic ground state, SiCN and SiNC. Vertical excitation energies and oscillator strengths have been computed for a number of states lying up to 8 eV. The geometries of the lowest-lying doublet and quartet states have been determined. The lowest-lying excited doublet state of SiNC (1²Σ⁺, 4.0 eV) arises from a HOMO–LUMO excitation (3π → 10σ), although the 1²Δ state (9σ → 3π) is very close in energy. In the case of the SiCN isomer the lowest excited state is 1²Δ, which arises from an excitation from the highest occupied σ orbital into the HOMO (9σ → 3π) and lies 3.6 eV above the ground state. SiCN should present very strong absorptions at 4.9 and 6.1 eV whereas SiNC should have relatively strong absorptions in the region of 5.7–5.9 eV. The smallest adiabatic energy gaps with respect to the ground state of SiNC and SiCN are very close (about 2.8 eV) and the excited state is the same 1²A′, which has angular equilibrium geometries for both isomers. We have determined accurate values for enthalpies of formation of the two linear doublet forms and .