Ab initio study of the structure and conformations of 2-fluoroethanal in the ground and lowest excited electronic states

The structure of the conformationally flexible 2-fluoroethanal molecule (CH₂FCHO, FE) in the ground (S₀) and lowest excited triplet (T₁) and singlet (S₁) electronic states was investigated by ab initio quantum-chemical methods. The FE molecule in the S₀ state was found to exist as two conformers, viz., as cis (the F—C—C—O angle is 0°) and trans (the F—C—C—O angle is 180°) conformers. On going both to the T₁ and S₁ states, the FE molecule undergoes substantial structural changes, in particular, the CH₂F top is rotated with respect to the core and the carbonyl CCHO fragment becomes nonplanar. The potential energy surfaces for the T₁ and S₁ states are qualitatively similar, viz., six minima in each of the excited states of FE correspond to three pairs of mirror-symmetrical conformers. Based on the potential energy surfaces calculated for the FE molecule in the T₁ and S₁ states, the one-dimensional problems on the torsion and inversion nuclear motions as well as the two-dimensional torsion-inversion problems were solved.     

S1←S0 vibronic spectrum and structure of fluoral in the S1 state

The vibronic absorption spectrum of fluoral vapor was studied in the region of the S₁←S₀ electronic transition (313–360 nm). The origin O₀ ⁰⁺) of the transition (29419 cm⁻¹) and a number of fundamental frequencies in the S₀ and S₁ states were determined. The character of intensity distribution in the spectral bands indicates that the electronic excitation leads to significant change of the CF₃ group orientation relative to the molecular frame. Moreover, it was found that the carbonyl fragment of the molecule in the S₁ state has pyramidal structure (in contrast, the carbonyl fragment of the fluoral molecule in the S₀ state is planar). The experimental torsion and inversion energy levels were used for the calculation of internal rotation and inversion potential functions of fluoral molecule in the S₁ state. The potential barriers to internal rotation and inversion were found to be 1270 cm⁻¹ (15.2 kJ mol⁻¹) and 550 cm⁻¹ (6.6 kJ mol⁻¹), respectively. The conformational changes caused by S₁←S₀ electronic excitation in the fluoral molecule are similar to those observed in acetaldehyde and biacetyl molecules and differ from the conformational behavior of hexafluorobiacetyl molecule. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 294–299, February, 1998.     

Ab initio Quantum-Mechanical Calculations of Molecular Structure and Conformations of 2,2-Dichloroethanal in the Ground and Excited Lowest Triplet States

Ab initio calculations were carried out to investigate the molecular structure of 2,2-dichloroethanal (DCE, CHCl₂CHO) in the ground (S ₀) and excited lowest triplet (₁) states. It is found that electronic excitation of DCE from the S ₀ to T ₁ state occurs with top rotations and a loss of planarity of the carbonyl fragments. Six minima corresponding to three pairs of enantiomers were found on the potential energy surface (PES) of the DCE molecule in the ₁ state. Based on the PES calculated (by the UHF and CASSCF methods in a 6-31G** basis) for DCE in the ₁ state, the one-dimensional torsional and inversion problems and the two-dimensional torsional-inversion problems are solved. A comparison of the results has revealed a relationship between the torsional and inversion motions.     

Structure of acetyl chloride molecule isotopomers CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>COCl and CD<Subscript>3</Subscript>COCl in the ground and lowest excited singlet and triplet electronic states: a quantum mechanical study

The structures of isotopomers of conformationally flexible acetyl chloride molecule, CH₃COCl and CD₃COCl, in the ground (S₀ and lowest excited singlet (S₁) and triplet (T₁) electronic states were calculated by the RHF, MP2, and CASSCF methods. The equilibrium geometric parameters and harmonic vibrational frequencies of the molecules in these electronic states were estimated. According to calculations, electronic excitation causes considerable conformational changes involving rotation of the CH₃ (CD₃) top and a substantial deviation of the CCOCl fragment from planarity. The results of calculations agree with experimental data. Two dimensional torsional inversion sections of the potential energy surface were calculated and analyzed. Vibrational problems for large amplitude vibrations (torsional vibration in the S₀ state and both torsional and inversion vibrations in the T₁ and S₁ states) were solved in one- and two-dimensional approximations.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 62–70, January, 2005.     

Potential energy surface of the photolysis of isocyanic acid HNCO

The dissociation curves of the photolysis of the isocyanic acid HNCO→HN+CO corresponding to the ground state (S0), the first triplet excited state (TO and the first singlet excited state (S1) have been studied respectively at the UHF/6-311G** and CIS/6-311G** levels using ab initio method. The energy surface crossing points, S1/T1 T1/S0 and S1/S0, have been found and the characteristics of the energy minimum crossing point were given, based on which, the changes of the crossing points' geometries along the lower electronic energy surface and its end-result have been located according to the steepest descent principle. The computational result indicates thatthe photolysis of the isocyanic acid HNCO→HN + CO has three competitive reaction channels ((A)-(C)), and from the kinetic piont of view, channel (A) is the most advantageous.     

One- and Two-Dimensional Torsion-Inversion Models for the Fluoral Molecule (CF3CHO) in Excited Electronic States

The structure of the conformationally nonrigid fluoral molecule (CF₃CHO) in the ground (S₀) and lowest excited triplet (T₁) and singlet (S₁) electronic states was studied by ab initio quantum-chemical methods. The equilibrium geometric parameters and harmonic vibrational frequencies of the molecule in these electronic states were determined. The calculations demonstrated that the electronic excitation causes substantial changes in the molecular structure involving the rotation of the CF₃ top and the deviation of the CCHO carbonyl fragment from planarity. The quantum-mechanical problems for large-amplitude vibrations, namely, for the torsional vibration in the S₀ state and the torsional and inversion vibrations (nonplanar carbonyl fragment) in the T₁ and S₁ states, were solved in the one- and two-dimensional approximations. A comparison of the results of calculations revealed the correlation between the torsional and inversion motions.     

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.     

Quantum chemical and experimental studies on the structure and vibrational spectra of substituted 2-pyranones

A systematic study on the structural characteristics of the 2-pyranone ring containing molecules with bromine, nitrile, and amide substituents at the C-3 position in the ring is conducted in the electronic ground (S ₀) state by DFT calculations using the B3LYP/6-311++G** method. The geometrical structure of the bromine substituted compound, which shows potent hepatoprotective activity, is studied both in the ground (S ₀) and first excited singlet (S ₁) states using RHF/6-311++G** and CIS/6-311++G** methods respectively. The molecules are found to exist in two isomeric forms gauche and trans that have the enthalpy difference of less than 3.32 kcal/mol; the latter is the preferred orientation in the gaseous phase. The S ₁ state is a ¹(π,π*) state that arises π-electron transfer from the region of a double bond in the pyranone ring to the region of the internuclear bond connecting the 2-pyranone and benzene rings. A complete vibrational analysis is conducted for the 3-bromo-6-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-thiomethyl-2H-pyran-2-one molecule based on the experimental infrared spectra in the 50–4000 cm⁻¹ region and DFT/6- 311++G** computations of vibrational frequencies for the gauche and trans isomeric forms. Spectral assignments based on the potential energy distribution along the internal coordinates confirm the nonplanar structure of the molecule.     

Theoretical study of structure,vibrational and electronic spectra of isomers of methyl-3-methoxy-2-propenoate

A systematic quantum mechanical study of the possible conformations, their relative stabilities, vibrational and electronic spectra and thermodynamic parameters of methyl-3-methoxy-2-propenoate has been reported for the electronic ground (S₀) and first excited (S₁) states using time-dependent and time-independent Density Functional Theory (DFT) and RHF methods in extended basis sets. Detailed studies have been restricted to the E-isomer, which is found to be substantially more stable than the Z-isomer. Four possible conformers c′Cc, c′Tc, t′Cc, t′Tc, of which the first two are most stable, have been identified in the S₀ and S₁ states. Electronic excitation to S₁ state is accompanied with a reversal in the relative stability of the c′Cc and c′Tc conformers and a substantial reduction in the rotational barrier between them, as compared with the S₀ state. Optimized geometries of these conformers in the S₀ and S₁ states are being reported. Based on suitably scaled RHF/6-31G^** and DFT/6-311G^** calculations, assignments have been provided to the fundamental vibrational bands of both these conformers in terms of frequency, form and intensity of vibrations and potential energy distribution across the symmetry coordinates in the S₀ state. A complete interpretation of the electronic spectra of the conformers has been provided.     

The structure of CX2YNO (X, Y=F, Cl) molecules in the ground and lowest excited singlet electronic states

Ab initio quantum-chemical calculations of equilibrium geometric parameters, vibrational frequencies, and potentials of internal rotation for CCIF₂NO and CCl₂FNO molecules in the ground (S₀) and lowest excited singlet (S₁) electronic states were performed. The results of calculations were compared with experimental data. A new interpretation of experimental spectra of the CCIF₂NO molecule was suggested. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1453–1458, August, 1999.     

Synthesis and structures of five-coordinate bis-o-iminobenzosemiquinone complexes M(ISQ-R)2X (X = Cl, Br, I, or SCN; M = CoIII, FeIII, or MnIII)

New five-coordinate complexes Co(ISQ-Prⁱ)₂Cl, Co(ISQ-Me)₂Cl, Co(ISQ-Me)₂I, Co(ISQ-Me)₂(SCN), Mn(ISQ-Prⁱ)₂Cl, and Fe(ISQ-Me)₂Br (ISQ-Prⁱ and ISQ-Me are the 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-and 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-o-iminobenzosemiquinone radical anions, respectively) were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy and magnetochemistry. The molecular structures of the Fe(ISQ-Me)₂Br and Mn(ISQ-Prⁱ)₂Cl complexes were established by X-ray diffraction. The singlet ground state (S = 0) of the cobalt complexes is caused by antiferromagnetic coupling between the unpaired electrons of the radical ligands (S = 1/2) through the fully occupied atomic orbitals of low-spin cobalt(III) (d⁶, S = 0). The effective magnetic moments of the complexes at 10 K are 0.18 μ_B for Co(ISQ-Prⁱ)₂Cl and 0.16 μ_B for Co(ISQ-Me)₂I. The ground state of the manganese complex is triplet (S = 1). Two unpaired electrons of the o-iminobenzosemiquinone ligands are strongly antiferromagnetically coupled with two of four unpaired electrons of high-spin manganese(III) (d⁴, S = 2). Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 43–51, January, 2006.     

硫代樟脑光化学反应的理论研究

运用量子化学方法优化了硫代樟脑的最低5个电子态(S₀, T₁, S₁, T₂和S₂)的结构, 并计算了它们的相对能量. 计算结果表明: S₁, T₁和T₂态的能量非常接近, 而S₂的能量远远高于T₂态, 这与之前对几种小的硫代羰基化合物的研究结论一致. 确定了硫代樟脑分子在T₁态发生β-插入反应和类Norrish II型反应的机理, 计算的势垒相对于S₀的振动零点分别为314.1和332.6 kJ/mol. 在400 nm波长的光的照射下, 分子被激发到S₁态, 此时分子没有足够的能量发生反应, 只能通过内转换回到基态. 当激发光波长在254 nm时, 硫代樟脑分子被激发到S₂态, 这时候体系有了足够的内部能量使反应发生. 实验上已经观察到此激发光波长下, 气态硫代樟脑可以发生β-插入反应和类Norrish II型反应.     

The S1 ← S0 vibronic spectra and structure of the (CH3)2 CHCHO and (CH3)2 CHCDO 2-methylpropanal molecules

A multipass cell with an optical path up to 120 m long was used to measure the vibronic absorption spectra of 2-methylpropanal-h₁ (MPA-h₁, (CH₃)₂CHCHO)) and 2-methylpropanal-d₁ (MPA-d₁, (CH₃)₂CHCDO)) over the frequency range 28200–31600 cm⁻¹. The most intense spectral lines were assigned to transitions from vibrational levels of the cis and gauche MPA-h₁ and MPA-d₁ conformers in the ground electronic state (S ₀) to vibrational levels of conformers 1 and 3 in the lowest singlet excited electronic state (S ₁). According to our estimates, the origins (0 ₀ ⁰ ) of the 1 S ₁) ← cis(S ₀) and 3(S ₁) ← cis(S ₀) and also 1(S ₁) ← gauche(S ₀) and 3(S ₁) ← gauche(S ₀) electronic transitions were situated at 29147 and 29177, 29391 and 29417 cm⁻¹, respectively, for MPA-h₁ and at 29226 and 29240, 29480 and 29500 cm⁻¹ for MPA-d₁. The structure of conformers 1 and 3 in the S ₁ state was shown to differ from the structure of the cis and gauche conformers in the S ₀ state by the angle of rotation of the (CH₃)₂CH-isopropyl top and “pyramidal distortion” of the CCHO/CCDO carbonyl fragment. A series of fundamental frequencies of MPA conformers in different electronic states were found. The potential functions of inversion were determined for the conformer 1-conformer 3 pairs of MPA-h₁ and MPA-d₁ from the experimental energy levels of inversion vibrations. The potential barriers to inversion and equilibrium displacements of the CH/CD bond out of the CCO plane were found to be 735/675 cm⁻¹ and ±34°/±32° for MPA-h₁ and MPA-d₁, respectively. Original Russian Text ? I.A. Godunov, S.L. Lur’e, N.N. Yakovlev, V.A. Bataev, 2007, published in Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii, 2007, Vol. 81, No. 1, pp. 52–62.     

S 1 ←S 0 vibronic spectrum and the structure of the chloral molecule in theS 1 stateS 0 vibronic spectrum and the structure of the chloral molecule in theS 1 state

The vibronic absorption spectrum of chloral (CCl₃COH) vapors is studied in the region of S₁ ← S₀ electron transition (32,000–28,700 cm⁻¹). The 29,070 cm⁻¹ vibronic transition (not observed because of low intensity) is believed to be the ‘start’ of the electron transition. Several fundamentals are found in the S₀ and S₁ states. Inversion splitting of the zero vibrational level in the S₁ state of chloral, indicating a nonplanar structure of the carbonyl fragment, is found. The intensity ratio of the torsional transition bands indicates that the S₁ ← S₀ electronic excitation of the chloral molecule causes significant changes in the orientation of the −CCl₃ group relative to the molecular framework. The potential functions of internal rotation (S₀ and S₁ states) and inversion (S₁ state) of the chloral molecule are determined from experimental data. The potential barriers of internal rotation (S₀ and S₁ states) and inversion (S₁ state) are 380, 780, and 760 cm⁻¹ (4.5, 9.3, and 9.1 kJ/mole), respectively. M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 507–513, May–June, 1998.     

Study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>–<Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis> isomerization mechanism of 3,3′-azobenzene disulphonate in the lowest singlet and triplet electronic states by density functional theory

Abstract  

The cis–trans isomerization pathways of 3,3′-azobenzene disulphonate in the S₀ and T₁ states are studied by DFT method at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level. In the S₀ state, the cis–trans isomerization concerns the complex pathway that is characterized by the inversion of one NNC angle combined with rotation around the NC bond, and the three sequential transition states are also found on the potential energy profile. Therefore, the cis–trans isomerization of 3,3′-azobenzene disulphonate can be understood in terms of a pathway involving successive rotation, inversion, and rotation processes. The energy barrier of the S₀ state is 22.79 kcal mol⁻¹. In the T₁ state, the isomerization mainly concerns the rotational pathway around the NN double bond, and the two isomers are connected through only one transition state. The isomerization of the T₁ state is related to a lower energy barrier, 5.02 kcal mol⁻¹, but requires a change in spin-multiplicity.     

Molecular Structure and Conformations of Chloral (CCl3CHO) in the Ground and Lowest Triplet States

This paper reports on an ab initio quantum mechanical calculation of the structure of the conformationally nonrigid chloral (CCl₃CHO) molecule in the ground (S₀) and lowest excited triplet (T₁) states. Electronic excitation causes substantial changes in molecular geometry: the CCl₃ top is rotated, and the carbonyl (CCHO) fragment becomes nonplanar. For the torsional (S₀ and T₁) and inversion (T₁) nuclear vibrations, one- (S₀ and T₁) and two-dimensional (T₁) vibrational problems are solved; a relationship is found between the torsional and inversion vibrations in the T₁ state. The results are compared with the data of analogous calculations for the acetaldehyde molecule in the T₁ state.     

Comparative analysis of the vibrational structure of the absorption spectra of acrolein in the excited (<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis><Subscript>1</Subscript>) electronic state

The assignments of absorption bands of the vibrational structure of the UV spectrum are compared with the assignments of bands obtained by the CRDS method in a supersonic jet from the time of laser radiation damping for the trans isomer of acrolein in the excited (S ₁) electronic state. The ν_00trans = 25861 cm⁻¹ values and fundamental frequencies, including torsional vibration frequency, obtained by the two methods were found to coincide in the excited electronic state (S ₁) for this isomer. The assignments of several absorption bands of the vibrational structure of the spectrum obtained by the CRDS method were changed. Changes in the assignment of (0-v′) transition bands of the torsional vibration of the trans isomer in the Deslandres table from the ν_00trans trans origin allowed the table to be extended to high quantum numbers v′. The torsional vibration frequencies up to v′ = 5 were found to be close to the frequencies found by analyzing the vibrational structure of the UV spectrum and calculated quantum-mechanically. The coincidence of the barrier to internal rotation (the cis-trans transition) in the one-dimensional model with that calculated quantum-mechanically using the two-dimensional model corresponds to a planar structure of the acrolein molecule in the excited (S ₁) electronic state.     

Multireference Calculation of the Photodissociation of Benzyl Chloride

The photodissociation mechanism of benzyl chloride （BzCl） under 248 nm has been investigated by the complete active space SCF （CASSCF） method by calculating the geometries of the ground （S0） and lower excited states, the vertical （Tv） and adiabatic （T0） excitation energies of the lower states, and the dissociation reaction pathways on the potential energy surfaces （PES） of SI, TI and T2 states. The calculated results clearly elucidated the photodissociation mechanism of BzCl, and indicated that the photodissociation on the PES of T1 state is the most favorable.     

A multi-dimensional microcanonical Monte Carlo study of S0 → T1 intersystem crossing of isocyanic acid

A general formula for the multi-dimensional Monte Carlo microcanonical nonadiabatic rate constant expressed in configuration space is applied to calculate the rate of intersystem crossing (ISC) between the ground (S₀) and first excited triplet (T₁) states for isocyanic acid. One-, two- and three-dimensional potential energy surfaces are constructed by coupled-cluster single-double CCSD calculations, which are used for Monte Carlo sampling. The calculated S₀→T₁ ISC rate is in good agreement with experimental findings, which gives us a reason to believe that the multi-dimensional Monte Carlo microcanonical nonadiabatic rate theory is a very effective method for calculating nonadiabatic transition rate of a polyatomic molecule.     

Molecular Structure of Chloral (CCl3CHO) in the Lowest Excited Singlet State

The structure and the conformational behavior of the chloral CCl₃CHO molecule in the lowest excited singlet state (S₁) was investigated by CASSCF and CI ab initio quantum-chemical methods. It is shown that electronic excitation S₁S₀ causes significant changes in the molecular structure, namely, CCl₃ top rotation and pyramidalization of the carbonyl (CCHO) fragment. A relationship between the torsional and inversion vibrations of chloral in the S₁ state has been found. For large-amplitude nuclear motions corresponding to the torsional and inversion vibrations, the corresponding one- and two-dimensional problems were solved. The results are compared with the experimental data and with the results of previous calculations for the lowest excited triplet (T₁) state.