Complete-active-space self-consistent-field/Amber parameterization of the Lys296–retinal–Glu113 rhodopsin chromophore-counterion system

A special hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics forcefield is defined, parameterized and validated for studying the photoisomerization path of the retinal chromophore in the rhodopsin protein. It couples a multireference ab initio Hamiltonian (CASSCF and second-order multireference many-body perturbation theory using a CASSCF reference) to describe the chromophore while the rest of the protein is approximated with the Amber forcefield. The frontier has been carefully parameterized in order to reproduce full quantum mechanics torsional energy profiles, for both the ground state and the first excited state. It is also shown that replacing the chromophore counterion with point charges is a valid approximation. This result is interpreted in terms of a cancellation effect for which a possible explanation is given.     

偶氮苯光致异构化对紫精-曙洪络合的调控

报导了α，ω－偶氮苯，紫精双发色团化合物的合成与性质研究，结果表明偶氮苯的光致顺反异构化以可调控与之相连的紫精与曙红络合行为，其作用程度的强弱与连接两者的亚甲基链的长度有关，借助ＨＮＭＲ通过对构象进行分析解释了上述的研究结果。     

Implementation of ab initio multiple spawning in the Molpro quantum chemistry package

The ab initio multiple spawning (AIMS) method has been developed to solve the electronic and nuclear Schrodinger equations simultaneously for application to photochemical reaction dynamics. We discuss some details of the implementation of AIMS in the Molpro program package. A few aspects of the implementation are highlighted, including a new multiple timescale integrator and a scheme for solving the coupled-perturbed multiconfiguration self-consistent field (CP-MCSCF) equations in the context of ab initio molecular dynamics. The implementation is very efficient and we demonstrate calculations on the photoisomerization of ethylene using more than 5000 trajectory basis functions. We have included the capability for hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations within AIMS, and we investigate the role of an argon solvent in the photoisomerization of ethylene. Somewhat surprisingly, the surrounding argon has little effect on the timescale of non-adiabatic quenching in ethylene.     

Synthesis of a Polymer-bound Sensitizer and its Application in the Photoisomerization of trans-Vitamin D_3 to cis-Vitamin D_3

The photochemistry of the vitamin D family and their precursors has been the subject of extensive studies for many years1-4. Most of the studies focus on the photoisomer- ization of 7-dehydrocholesterol and that of tachysterol to previtamin D3, which is of commercial importance in the synthesis of vitamin D34, 5. Recently the cis/trans isomerization of vitamin D analogs (Scheme 1) draws attention because of its importance in the synthesis of hydroxylated vitamin D metabolites6. However, o…     

Photodynamics of azobenzene in a hindering environment

We have run trajectory surface hopping simulations of the trans → cis photoisomerization of azobenzene, subject to a pulling force. The model mimics two situations: a trans-azobenzene derivative with bulky substituents that may not be easily displaced, and a recent experiment by Gaub’s group [T. Hugel, N.B. Holland, A. Cattani, L. Moroder, M. Seitz, H.E. Gaub, Science 296 (2002) 1103; N.B. Holland, T. Hugel, G. Neuert, A. Cattani-Scholz, C. Renner, D. Oesterhelt, L. Moroder, M. Seitz, H.E. Gaub, Macromolecules 36 (2003) 2015; G. Neuert, T. Hugel, R.R. Netz, H.E. Gaub, Macromolecules 39 (2005) 789], in which a polymer with azobenzene units was stretched in an atomic force microscope. In both cases, the shortening of the azobenzene moiety in going from the trans to the cis form is opposed by a pulling force. Our simulations show that the trans → cis photoconversion is only partially suppressed by considerably large forces (≈500 pN or more). However, the cis isomer reverts to trans in the ground state, with the help of the pulling force and using the vibrational energy that is available in the first 1–2 ps. The lowering of the quantum yields is therefore the combined result of hindering of the excited state process and of the hot ground state back reaction.     

Synthesis and photochemistry of pH-sensitive GFP chromophore analogs

GFP chromophore analogs (7a-e, 8, and 10a,b) containing 2-thienyl-, 5-methyl-2-furyl-, 2-pyrryl, and 6-methyl-2-pyridyl-groups were synthesized and their fluorescence spectra recorded in the pH range 1-7. NMR studies showed that protonation of 8 (2-thienyl system) inhibited photoisomerization (Z-E) about the exocyclic double bond but that protonation of 7c (E + Z) (2-pyrryl system) gave only 7cE. Fluorescence studies revealed enhancement of fluorescence intensity of 7c and 7b,e (furyl system) below pH 2.5 and gave a similar result for 10a (pyridyl system) below pH 6. Quantum yields at pH 1 were low, probably due to excited state proton transfer (ESPT).     

Synthesis and properties of conjugated bimetallic ruthenium complexes with σ,σ-bridging azobenzene chains

A versatile synthetic route to conjugated bimetallic ruthenium complexes with σ,σ-bridging azobenzene chains was developed, and new ruthenium complexes with various ligands were synthesized and characterized. These bimetallic complexes showed a remarkable absorption in the visible region (λ_max: 452-483 nm), and undergo trans-to-cis isomerization under UV light irradiation for short time. Electrochemical study showed that the metal centers in bimetallic complexes containing the CHCHC₆H₄NNC₆H₄CHCH bridge interact with each other.     

A theoretical study of the lowest electronic states of azobenzene: the role of torsion coordinate in the cis–trans photoisomerization

In the present paper we report the results of a multiconfigurational computational study on potential-energy curves of azobenzene along the NN twisting to clarify the role of this coordinate in the decay of the S₂(*) and S₁(n*) states. We have found that there is a singlet state, S₃ at the trans geometry, on the basis of the doubly excited configuration n²*², that has a deep minimum at about 90° of twisting, where it is the lowest excited singlet state. The existence of this state provides an explanation for the short lifetime of S₂(*) and for the wavelength-dependence of azobenzene photochemistry. We have characterized the S₁(n*) state by calculating its vibrational frequencies, which are found to correspond to the recently observed transient Raman spectrum. We have also computed the potential-energy curve for the triplet T₁(n*) at the density functional theory B3LYP level, which indicates that in this state the isomerization occurs along the twisting coordinate.Acknowledgement The financial support from MIUR (project Modellistica delle proprietà spettroscopiche di sistemi molecolari complessi funds ex 60% and project Dinamiche molecolari in sistemi di interesse chimico funds ex 40%), from the University of Bologna (Funds for Selected Research Topics) is gratefully acknowledged.Contribution to the Jacopo Tomasi Honorary Issue     

硝基烃光异构化反应的密度泛函理论计算

采用DFT(B3LYP)计算方法, 在6-31G*水平上获得了反式-β-硝基苯乙烯、硝基乙烯和硝基甲烷基态异构化反应时的过渡态分子结构, 并计算了异构化能垒及激发态电子跃迁能. 结果显示, 反式-β-硝基苯乙烯和硝基苯与硝基甲烷相比具有较短的过渡态C—N键长, 较低的异构化能垒, 并且随着不饱和度的增加, 硝基苯和反式-β-硝基苯乙烯电子垂直跃迁能与基态异构化反应过渡态之间能量的差值ΔE迅速减小. 从能量的角度分析, 取代基的不饱和度越大, 越有利于激发态势能面与异构化反应势能面发生锥型或漏斗交叉, 因而越有利于光化学反应沿光异构化通道进行. 激发态分子的初始电子运动的定域或离域特征的差别可能是导致硝基苯等硝基芳烃与硝基甲烷等硝基烷烃光解通道不同的一个重要原因.     

偶氮型光致变色液晶树状大分子的量子产率、异构转化率和活化能研究

研究了化合物端基含36个己氧基偶氮苯介晶基元的二代(G2)光致变色液晶树状大分子在氯仿及四氢呋喃溶液中的量子产率、吸收光强Ia、活化能E、异构转化率A/A0、热回复异构化速率常数kH及其反/顺异构体组分比A′/A′0,并与一代光致变色液晶碳硅烷树状大分子(G1)及介晶基元化合物(M3)的光化学行为进行了比较.在氯仿及四氢呋喃溶液中的量子产率的顺序均为M3>G1>G2,吸收光强Ia在氯仿及四氢呋喃溶液中的顺序分别为G2>G1>M3(氯仿)和M3>G1>G2(四氢呋喃),在氯仿及四氢呋喃溶液中活化能的顺序均为M3>G2>G1,在氯仿及四氢呋喃溶液中热回复异构化速率常数kH的顺序均为G1>G2>M3,在热回复异构化反应中的反/顺异构体组分比A′/A0′在氯仿及四氢呋喃溶液中的顺序均为G2>G1>M3.