Application of the MC SCF method to the π → π* excitation energies of ethylene

The MC SCF method is employed to calculate the N → T and N → V π → π^* vertical excitation energies of ethylene. To obtain accurate excitation energies it is found to be necessary to utilize an expanded valence space containing two π and two π^* orbitals. Relatively small MC SCF calculations, allowing at most one-electron excitations from the sigma space, are found to yield excitation energies and spatial extents of the excited states in excellent agreement with the predictions of large multi-reference or iterative-natural-orbital CI calculations. These results show that within an MC SCF framework σ-σ correlation is unimportant for describing the π → π^* processes. We also conclude that the neglect of the effects of unlinked cluster terms in some of the CI calculations may have introduced small, but important, errors in the excitation energies and predictions of the spatial extent of the V state.     

Electronic structure of pyrazine: a study of the geometries in the lowest excited singlet π *← n and π*←π states

Electronic, excitation energies, charge distributions and geometries of pyrazine in the lowest excited singlet π^*←π and π^*←n states have been studied by the VE—PPP, CNDO/2 and CNDO/s-CI molecular orbital methods. Study of the change of geometry in the π^*←n excitation requires localization of the density matrices in the ground and excited states, and with the help of these σ-bond orders are defined. Charge distributions and bond orders in the lowest excited singlet π^*←π and π^*←n states are compared. Whereas in the lowest singlet π*←π excitation the pyrazine ring expands uniformly, in the case of the π^*←n excitation C-C bonds contract whereas C-N bonds elongate. The predictions of theory are in agreement with experimental results, showing that the method used can be employed to obtain reliably the trends of geometry changes following a π^*←π excitation of a molecule before a more complete theoretical or experimental study is performed.     

Empirical force field and ab initio calculations on allyl cations

Allyl cation geometries optimized using an extended version of MMP2, newly parameterized for localized and delocalized classical cations, compare favorably with those obtained at the MP2(full) /6–31G^* level. Hence, the force field should provide good starting structures for ab initio calculations. The π-electron densities obtained by these two very different methods are quite similar. The relative energies of various isomers at MP4/6–31G^*//MP2(full)/6–31G^* are reproduced well by the force-field calculations. The heats of formation calculated by MMP2, as well as those predicted from the ab initio data, agree with experimentally determined values. The force-field method provides interpretive capabilities. Energy differences between isomers can be separated into electronic and steric contributions, reasonable estimates of resonance energies are given, and nonbonded resonance energies in delocalized cations can be evaluated. The stabilizing 1–3 π-interactions in allyl cations are quite significant, but are reduced by alkyl groups hyperconjugatively and sterically. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Correlation of the zero-field splittings with the n,π* and π,π* triplet levels of benzaldehydes

The n,π^* and π,π^* triplet state energies of p-chlorobenzaldehyde and p-mathoxybenzaldehyde were determined in several hosts with the aid of phosphorescence and phosphorescence excitation spectra. A linear relationship expected from the theory considering spin-orbit interaction between the closely located n,π^* and π,π^* triplet states was found to be satisfied. The spin—orbit interaction parameter, <vb>G₂>vb>² was found to be 83 cm^?2 for benzaldehydes.     

Ab initio SCF CL study of the electronic spectrum of nitroso-methane

Configuration interaction studies of ground, n_ → π^*, n₊ → π^*, and π → π^* electronically excited states are reported for nitroso-methane in its eclipsed equilibrium geometry. The first (n_ → π^*) and the second (n⁺ → π^*) singlet states are calculated at 2.17 and 7.14 eV. it is shown that a significant delocalization of the nonbonding orbitals on the nitrogen and oxygen is responsible for the large energy gap between these two states. The two lowest triplet states occur at 1.29 and 5.39 eV and are of n_ → π^* and π → π^* origin.     

A non-empirical SCF and CI study of the electronic spectrum of pyrrole

Various electronically excited states of pyrrole have been studied by ab initio SCF and CI calculations including π → π^* and π → Rydberg excitations. Optically allowed valence type transitions are found at energies higher than 6.5 eV whereas all the lower singlet states are of Rydberg type. In addition to the experimentally known triplet states at 4.23 and 5.10 eV, several new triplet transitions with energies from 5.71 to 7.10 eV are predicted. In most cases good agreement with experimental data is found.     

MO-calculations of the energy transfer-activities of organic π-structures in the photo-fries rearrangement—III : A theoretical index for the energy transfer efficiency of organic π-systems in the photo-fries reaction

The energy transfer process between the excited singlet state of N-phenylurethane, NPU^*, and any other π-system, M, will be described theoretically by introducing the integral U, which symbolizes the interaction of the states NPU^*-M and NPU-M* following a suggestion of Labhart et al.¹ The formula for U based on the LCAO-MO-SCP-LCI approximation in the Pariser-Parr-Pople-version enables us to systematise the energy tranfer tendency of any π-system to quench or sensitize the photo-Fries reaction of NPU^* depending on the aggregate geometry NPU-M. The criteria of the complex geometry and the electronic structure of M providing a maximal value of U are collected and discussed. Together with the differences in transition energies of the fluorescence and the absorption spectra of NPU and M, respectively, the maximal values of U yield a theoretical index ?, providing a sequence for different M to inhibit the photo-Fries reaction by energy acception.     

Bonding studies in group IV substituted anilines : IV. Excited state interactions in the trimethyl derivatives

The solution ultraviolet spectra for N,N-dimethylaniline, p-t-butyl-, and p-trimethylsilyl-, p-trimethylgermyl-, and m-trimethylsilyl-N,N-dimethylaniline in acetonitrile and pentane are reported. The Group IV substituents perturb the excited states to a much larger extent than the ground states. Both the symmetric and antisymmetric π^* levels are affected by π interaction with the trimethylsilyl and trimethylgermyl substituents. The magnitude of the effects are proportional to the π density at the point of substitution. Simple Hückel calculations correlate well with experimental transition energies. The model appears to exaggerate π interactions between silicon or germanium and the π^* molecular orbitals.     

A molecular orbital study of lithium ion association with bases. The excited carbonyl bases R2CO

SCF CI calculations have been performed to investigate Li^XXX association with excited bases R₂CO. Although association leads to large increases in n → π¹ transition energies, the complexes R₂COLi^XXX remain bound in the n → π¹ state, but are destabilized relative to the ground state. In the Li^XXX-urea complex, the n → π¹ A₂, state lies slightly above a charge-transfer π → σ^* A₂ state.     

Activite optique de la methyl-3 cyclopentenanone; un calcul ab initio

Ab initio calculations for two conformers of 3-methyl cyclopentanone, with and without 3d orbitals, show that inclusion of d orbitals on the carbonyl group lower energies and is thus necessary, as follows from the variation principle; it also markedly affects rotatory strengths of the n→π^* and π→π^* transitions, but conformational equilibria of the cyclic skeleton and the methyl group are almost independent of the basis chosen. Internal rotation of the methyl group exerts a negligible influence on the rotatory strength of the n→π^* transition, so that this group can be considered as a sphere in this respect.     

Empirical force-field and ab initio calculations on delocalized open chain cations

Force-field calculations are reported for large delocalized cations. The results for the geometries, heats of formation, and π-electron densities agree well with MP2(full)/6–31G^* ab initio calculations. Both methods give similar results for the distortion of the carbon skeletons of unsubstituted cations by hyperconjugating methyl groups. Because of the SCF treatment of π-interactions, the MMP2 force-field technique enables calculations of resonance energies in delocalized cations. The additional resonance stabilization produced by extending conjugation is directly related to the π-charge on the carbon at which a vinyl group is substituted. The good agreement of MMP2 results for nonbonded resonance effects in large delocalized cationic π-systems with ab initio data suggests that MMP2 can be used to study the influence of these interactions in cationic π-systems too large to be calculated by correlated ab initio methods. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Circular dichroism of some crowded cyclic olefins

Chiroptical data for sterically crowded olefins, i.e. cholest-5-enes and cholest-6-enes substituted in the 6- or the 4,4,6-positions suggest that the π-σ^* transition may precede the olefinic π-π^* transition. A comparison with short-wavelength Cotton effects in structurally related enones and dienes is also presented.     

The effect of the central metal charge on the reduction half-wave potentials of d6 metal complexes

A SCF MO calculation is made to obtain the energies of the lowest vacant π-orbitals of tris-2,2′-bipyridine complexes of d⁶ transition metals in various oxidation states. Any overlap of a metal t_2g-orbital and a ligand π-orbital is neglected and the metal ion is considered as a source of an electrostatic potential field. The π-electron system of the three ligand molecules is treated as a whole by taking account of the overlap of 2pπ-AO's belonging to different ligand molecules. When it is assumed that a ligand π^*-orbital is occupied by the electron added in the course of reduction, the results of the calculation and the Born equation for solvation energy together lead to a linear relation between the reduction half-wave potentials of the complexes and the sum of the charges on the central metal ion and the ligand nitrogen atoms. This linear relation is confirmed experimentally by using the available data on the reduction half-wave potentials of the tris-bipyridine complexes of the following d⁶ metals: Ir(III), Fe(II), Ru(II), Os(II), Cr(0), Mo(0), V(?I) and Ti(?II).     

Effet α. influence de la substitution sur l'exaltation de reactivite d'oximes vis-a-vis de l'acetate de p-nitrophenyle

Kinetic measurements show the relation between the magnitude of the “α effect” exhibited by trifluoromethyloximate anions RR'C=N-O^? and the electron attracting properties of the substituents. Indeed, the reactivity enhancement which is observed for α-trifluoromethyloximes is similar to that found in earlier studies of α-hydroxyiminoketones. This characteristic behaviour is no longer observed for oximes bearing an electron releasing substituent at the α-position of the hydroxyimino group. On the basis of sodium oximate molecular orbital energies the “α effect” induced by electron attracting substituents appears to depend on both the interactions of nitrogen and oxygen lone pairs of electrons and the lowering of the π^* vacant orbital thus favouring a secondary interaction between the π^* anion orbital and the π orbital of p-nitrophenylacetate carbonyl group.     

Angular overlap parameters for ruthenium(II) complexes

Approximate Angular Overlap Model e_π parameters have been obtained for a number of ligands L by comparison of the t_2g(Ru) → π^*(bpy) transition energies in [Ru(bpy)₂L₂] complexes. The filled t_2g subshell of Ru(II) limits the effects of otherwise strongly π-donating ligands.     

Polarographic studies on bipyridine complexes: III. Polarography of tris(2,2′-bipyridine) complexes of chromium(I), chromium(0), vanadium(0), titanium(0) and molybdenum(0)

Polarograms and cyclic voltammograms for tris(2,2′-bipyridine) complexes of V(0), Cr(0), Cr(I), Ti(0) and Mo(0) in N,N-dimethylformamide are reported. The reversible half-wave potentials for the following redox systems in lower oxidation states are determined: Cr(?I)/Cr(?II), Cr(?II)/Cr(?III), V(I)/V(0), V(0)/V(?I), V(?I)/V(?II), V(?II)/V(?III), Ti(0)/Ti(?I), Ti(?I)/Ti(?II), Mo(?I)/Mo(?II) and Mo(?II)/Mo-(?III). On the basis of the half-wave-potential shift caused by the methyl substitution of ligands, it is concluded that each excess electron of the reductant species of the redox systems, V(bipy)₃^?/V(bipy)₃^2?, Cr(bipy)₃/Cr(bipy)₃^?, Cr(bipy)₃^?/Cr(bipy)₃^2? and Cr(bipy)₃^2?/Cr(bipy)₃^3? (bipy=2,2′-bipyridine), occupies a ligand π^*-orbital and that of the V(bipy)₃²⁺/V(bipy)₃⁺ and V(bipy)₃⁺/V(bipy)₃ systems a metal t_2g-orbital. The apparent π-character of the excess electron of the redox systems Cr(bipy)₃⁺/Cr(bipy)₃ and V(bipy)₃/V(bipy)₃^? is discussed. It is pointed out that the relative electron affinities of trisbipyridine complexes can be determined from the half-wave potential data. The lowest π^*-orbitals of V(bipy)₃^?, Cr(bipy)₃ and Fe(bidy)₃²⁺ become higher in this order. This suggests that the electrostatic interaction between a π^*-electron and the residual charge on the central metal ion predominantly accounts for the observed π^*-level shift.     

Ultraviolet spectra and structure of the isomeric dihydroxy- and diamino-substituted benzenes

The semi-empirical all-valence-electron SCF-LCAO-MO-CI method in its Del Bene and Jaffé formalism has been applied to the study of the electronic absorption spectra and structure of isomeric dihydroxy- and diamino-substituted benzenes. The calculated π-π^* singlet excitation energies and corresponding oscillator strengths have been compared with earlier π-electron results and discussed in the light of experimental findings. Ionization potentials, electron affinities, ground-state atomic orbital populations and net electronic charges of atoms, have also been presented.     

Photoisomerization of the C15-aldehyde and the C18-ketone in the vitamin a series. Solvent effect on photoisomerization of compounds related to retinal

The directions of photoisomerization of polyenals and polyenones are believed to be controlled by the relative ordering of the n,π^* and π, πa^* states.     

Correlation of free-electron molecular orbital energies with π ionization energies of aromatic hydrocarbons

With the introduction of an effective mass m^* into the simple free-electron model, the π-orbital energies of aromatic hydrocarbons containing up to 10 condensed benzene rings correlate closely with the π-band positions of the corresponding photoelectron spectra. For a sample of 70 π-orbitals the linear regression yields a standard error SE = 0.129 eV. Compared to HMO results, the number of accidental degeneracies is drastically reduced and the correlation is significantly improved. The free-electron results also compare favorably to those obtained by the PPP, EH and MINDO/2 methods which were scaled by two additional parameters.     

Photoluminescence of Acenaphthenone in Organic Solvents and Aqueoug Media

The configuration of the lowest excited state of acenaphthenone, S₁(π, π^*) or T₁(π, π^*), depending on the solvent, dominates photoluminescence. The T₁(n, π^*) state in aprotic organic solvents is responsible for the phosphorescence of acenaphthenone. The wavelengths of the phosphorescence measured in benzene are 576 nm and 635 nm (vibronic) with 3.3 × 10^?4 quantum efficiency. However, the S₁(π, π^*) state in protic solution which dominates the fluorescence emission depending upon acidity is the most distinctive feature of acenaphthenone. The wavelengths of the emissions are 446 nm under water solvation with 0.185 quantum efficiency and 538 nm with 0.097 quantum efficiency under high acidity. The emission at 446 nm is assigned from a H-bonded keto-form excited state, whereas the emission at 538 nm is probably due to the excited state of protonated keto-form. The pK_a value in aqueous solution measured by diminution of fluorescence in basic solutions is 12.5 ± 0.4.