Photoelectron spectroscopic study of the oxyallyl diradical

The photoelectron spectrum of the oxyallyl (OXA) radical anion has been measured. The radical anion has been generated in the reaction of the atomic oxygen radical anion (O(?-)) with acetone. Three low-lying electronic states of OXA have been observed in the spectrum. Electronic structure calculations have been performed for the triplet states ((3)B(2) and (3)B(1)) of OXA and the ground doublet state ((2)A(2)) of the radical anion using density functional theory (DFT). Spectral simulations have been carried out for the triplet states based on the results of the DFT calculations. The simulation identifies a vibrational progression of the CCC bending mode of the (3)B(2) state of OXA in the lower electron binding energy (eBE) portion of the spectrum. On top of the (3)B(2) feature, however, the experimental spectrum exhibits additional photoelectron peaks whose angular distribution is distinct from that for the vibronic peaks of the (3)B(2) state. Complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) method and second-order perturbation theory based on the CASSCF wave function (CASPT2) have been employed to study the lowest singlet state ((1)A(1)) of OXA. The simulation based on the results of these electronic structure calculations establishes that the overlapping peaks represent the vibrational ground level of the (1)A(1) state and its vibrational progression of the CO stretching mode. The (1)A(1) state is the lowest electronic state of OXA, and the electron affinity (EA) of OXA is 1.940 ± 0.010 eV. The (3)B(2) state is the first excited state with an electronic term energy of 55 ± 2 meV. The widths of the vibronic peaks of the X? (1)A(1) state are much broader than those of the a? (3)B(2) state, implying that the (1)A(1) state is indeed a transition state. The CASSCF and CASPT2 calculations suggest that the (1)A(1) state is at a potential maximum along the nuclear coordinate representing disrotatory motion of the two methylene groups, which leads to three-membered-ring formation, i.e., cyclopropanone. The simulation of b? (3)B(1) OXA reproduces the higher eBE portion of the spectrum very well. The term energy of the (3)B(1) state is 0.883 ± 0.012 eV. Photoelectron spectroscopic measurements have also been conducted for the other ion products of the O(?-) reaction with acetone. The photoelectron imaging spectrum of the acetylcarbene (AC) radical anion exhibits a broad, structureless feature, which is assigned to the X? (3)A' state of AC. The ground ((2)A') and first excited ((2)A') states of the 1-methylvinoxy (1-MVO) radical have been observed in the photoelectron spectrum of the 1-MVO ion, and their vibronic structure has been analyzed.     

Thermochemical studies of pyrazolide

The 351.1 nm photoelectron spectrum of 1-pyrazolide anion has been measured. The 1-pyrazolide ion is produced by hydroxide (HO(-)) deprotonation of pyrazole in a flowing afterglow ion source. The electron affinity (EA) of the 1-pyrazolyl radical has been determined to be 2.938 +/- 0.005 eV. The angular dependence of the photoelectrons indicates near-degeneracy of low-lying states of 1-pyrazolyl. The vibronic feature of the spectrum suggests significant nonadiabatic effects in these electronic states. The gas phase acidity of pyrazole has been determined using a flowing afterglow-selected ion flow tube; Delta(acid)G(298) = 346.4 +/- 0.3 kcal mol(-1) and Delta(acid)H(298) = 353.6 +/- 0.4 kcal mol(-1). The N-H bond dissociation energy (BDE) of pyrazole is derived to be D(0)(pyrazole, N-H) = 106.4 +/- 0.4 kcal mol(-1) from the EA and the acidity using a thermochemical cycle. In addition to 1-pyrazolide, the photoelectron spectrum demonstrates that HO(-) deprotonates pyrazole at the C5 position to generate a minor amount of 5-pyrazolide anion. The photoelectron spectrum of 5-pyrazolide has been successfully reproduced by a Franck-Condon (FC) simulation based on the optimized geometries and the normal modes obtained from B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) electronic structure calculations. The EA of the 5-pyrazolyl radical is 2.104 +/- 0.005 eV. The spectrum exhibits an extensive vibrational progression for an in-plane CCN bending mode, which indicates a substantial difference in the CCN angle between the electronic ground states of 5-pyrazolide and 5-pyrazolyl. Fundamental vibrational frequencies of 890 +/- 15, 1110 +/- 35, and 1345 +/- 30 cm(-1) have been assigned for the in-plane CCN bending mode and two in-plane bond-stretching modes, respectively, of X (2)A' 5-pyrazolyl. The physical properties of the pyrazole system are compared to the isoelectronic systems, pyrrole and imidazole.     

Slow photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy of the n-methylvinoxide anion

High resolution photoelectron spectra of the n-methylvinoxide anion and its deuterated isotopologue are obtained by slow electron velocity-map imaging. Transitions between the X?(1)A' anion ground electronic state and the radical X?(2)A" and A?(2)A' states are observed. The major features in the spectra are attributed to transitions involving the lower energy cis conformers of the anion and neutral, while the higher energy trans conformers contribute only a single small peak. Franck-Condon simulations of the X?(2)A" ← X?(1)A' and A?(2)A' ← X?(1)A' transitions are performed to assign vibrational structure in the spectrum and to aid in identifying peaks in the cis-n-methylvinoxy X? (2)A" band that occur only through vibronic coupling. The experimental electron affinity and A? state term energy are found to be EA = 1.6106 ± 0.0008 eV and T(0) = 1.167 ± 0.002 eV for cis-n-methylvinoxy.     

Nonadiabatic effects in the photoelectron spectrum of the pyrazolide-d3 anion: three-state interactions in the pyrazolyl-d3 radical

The 351.1 nm photoelectron spectrum of the 1-pyrazolide-d(3) anion has been measured. The photoelectron angular distributions indicate the presence of nearly degenerate electronic states of the 1-pyrazolyl-d(3) radical. Equation-of-motion ionization potential coupled-cluster singles and doubles (EOMIP-CCSD) calculations have been performed to study the low-lying electronic states. The calculations strongly suggest that three electronic states, energetically close to each other, are accessed in the photodetachment process. Strong interactions of the pseudo-Jahn-Teller type in each pair of the three states are evident in the calculations for the radical at the anion geometry. Model diabatic potentials of the three states have been constructed around the anion geometry in terms of the anion reduced normal coordinates up to the second order. An analytic method to parametrize the quadratic vibronic coupling (QVC) model potentials has been introduced. Parameters of the QVC model potentials have been determined from the EOMIP-CCSD and CCSD(T) calculations. Simulations of the 1-pyrazolide-d(3) spectrum have been performed with the model Hamiltonian, treating all vibronic interactions amongst the three states simultaneously. The simulation reproduces the fine structure of the observed spectrum very well, revealing complicated nonadiabatic effects in the low-lying states of the radical. The ground state of the 1-pyrazolyl-d(3) radical is (2)A(2) and the electron affinity is 2.935+/-0.006 eV. The first excited state is (2)B(1) with a term energy of 32+/-1 meV. While the high-symmetry (C(2v)) stationary points of the X (2)A(2) and A (2)B(1) states are minima, that of the state is a saddle point as a result of the pseudo-Jahn-Teller interactions with the other two states. The topology of the adiabatic potential energy surfaces is discussed.     

Effects of alkyl substitution on the energetics of enolate anions and radicals.

The photoelectron spectra of the structural isomers of the three- and four-carbon enolate anions, n-C3H5O(-), i-C3H5O(-), n-C4H7O(-), s-C4H7O(-), and i-C4H7O(-) have been measured at 355 nm. Both the X(2A' ') ground and A(2A') first excited states of the corresponding radicals were accessed from the X(1A') ground state of the enolate anions. The separation energies of the ground and first excited states (T0) were determined: T0[(E)-n-C3H5O] = 1.19 +/- 0.02 eV, T0[(Z)-n-C3H5O] = 0.99 +/- 0.02 eV, T0[i-C3H5O] = 1.01 +/- 0.02 eV, T0[n-C4H7O] = 1.19 +/- 0.02 eV, T0[(2,3)-s-C4H7O] = 1.25 +/- 0.02 eV, T0[(1,2)-s-C4H7O] = 0.98 +/- 0.02 eV, and T0[i-C4H7O] = 1.36 +/- 0.02 eV. The effects of alkyl substitution on the vibronic structure and energetics previously observed in the vinoxy radical are discussed. The X(1A')-X(2A' ') relative stability is strongly influenced by substitution whereas the X(1A')-A(2A') relative stability remains nearly constant for all of the observed structural isomers. Alkyl substitution at the carbonyl carbon affects vibronic structure more profoundly than the energetics, while the converse is observed upon alkyl substitution at the alpha carbon.     

Thermochemical studies of N-methylpyrazole and N-methylimidazole

The 351.1 nm photoelectron spectra of the N-methyl-5-pyrazolide anion and the N-methyl-5-imidazolide anion are reported. The photoelectron spectra of both isomers display extended vibrational progressions in the X2A' ground states of the corresponding radicals that are well reproduced by Franck-Condon simulations, based on the results of B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) calculations. The electron affinities of the N-methyl-5-pyrazolyl radical and the N-methyl-5-imidazolyl radical are 2.054 +/- 0.006 eV and 1.987 +/- 0.008 eV, respectively. Broad vibronic features of the A(2)A' ' states are also observed in the spectra. The gas-phase acidities of N-methylpyrazole and N-methylimidazole are determined from measurements of proton-transfer rate constants using a flowing afterglow-selected ion flow tube instrument. The acidity of N-methylpyrazole is measured to be Delta(acid)G(298) = 376.9 +/- 0.7 kcal mol(-1) and Delta(acid)H(298) = 384.0 +/- 0.7 kcal mol(-1), whereas the acidity of N-methylimidazole is determined to be Delta(acid)G(298) = 380.2 +/- 1.0 kcal mol(-1) and Delta(acid)H(298)= 388.1 +/- 1.0 kcal mol(-1). The gas-phase acidities are combined with the electron affinities in a negative ion thermochemical cycle to determine the C5-H bond dissociation energies, D(0)(C5-H, N-methylpyrazole) = 116.4 +/- 0.7 kcal mol(-1) and D(0)(C5-H, N-methylimidazole) = 119.0 +/- 1.0 kcal mol(-1). The bond strengths reported here are consistent with previously reported bond strengths of pyrazole and imidazole; however, the error bars are significantly reduced.     

Calculation of the vibronic structure of the X2Pi photoelectron spectra of XCN, X=F, Cl, and Br

The vibronic structure of the photoelectron spectra of the X (2)Pi state of XCN(+) (X=F, Cl, and Br) has been calculated, assuming that the X (2)Pi state can be considered as an isolated electronic state. The Renner-Teller coupling of the two components of the (2)Pi state via the degenerate bending mode as well as spin-orbit coupling effects are taken into account. The two stretching modes are treated within the so-called linear vibronic-coupling model. The vibronic and spin-orbit parameters have been determined by accurate ab initio electronic-structure calculations. While spin-orbit effects are small in FCN(+), the large spin-orbit splitting of the X (2)Pi state of the BrCN(+) leads to a complete quenching of the Renner-Teller effect. The X (2)Pi state of the ClCN(+) is shown to be of particular interest: here the resonance condition for linear-relativistic Renner-Teller coupling is approximately fulfilled. This coupling mechanism leads to a significant intensity transfer to vibronic levels with odd quanta of the bending mode. The calculated spectrum indicates that this novel relativistic vibronic-coupling effect should be observable in high-resolution (electron energy resolution of the order of a few meV) photoelectron spectra of ClCN.     

Accurate ab initio ro-vibronic spectroscopy of the X̃2Π CCN radical using explicitly correlated methods

Explicitly correlated CCSD(T)-F12b calculations have been carried out with systematic sequences of correlation consistent basis sets to determine accurate near-equilibrium potential energy surfaces for the X(2)Π and a(4)Σ(-) electronic states of the CCN radical. After including contributions due to core correlation, scalar relativity, and higher order electron correlation effects, the latter utilizing large-scale multireference configuration interaction calculations, the resulting surfaces were employed in variational calculations of the ro-vibronic spectra. These calculations also included the use of accurate spin-orbit and dipole moment matrix elements. The resulting ro-vibronic transition energies, including the Renner-Teller sub-bands involving the bending mode, agree with the available experimental data to within 3 cm(-1) in all cases. Full sets of spectroscopic constants are reported using the usual second-order perturbation theory expressions. Integrated absorption intensities are given for a number of selected vibronic band origins. A computational procedure similar to that used in the determination of the potential energy functions was also utilized to predict the formation enthalpy of CCN, ΔH(f)(0K) = 161.7 ± 0.5 kcal/mol.     

Spectroscopic effects of first-order relativistic vibronic coupling in linear triatomic molecules

It has recently been shown that there exists, in addition to the well-known nonrelativistic Renner-Teller coupling, a linear (that is, of the first order in the bending distortion) vibronic-coupling mechanism of relativistic (that is, spin-orbit) origin in 2II electronic states of linear molecules [L. V. Poluyanov and W. Domcke, Chem. Phys. 301, 111 (2004)]. The generic aspects of the relativistic linear vibronic-coupling mechanism have been analyzed in the present work by numerical calculations of the vibronic spectrum for appropriate models. The vibronic and spin-orbit parameters have been determined by accurate ab initio electronic-structure calculations for the X 2II states of a series of triatomic radicals and radical cations. It is shown for the example of GeCH that the relativistic linear vibronic-coupling mechanism provides a quantitative explanation of the pronounced perturbations in the vibronic spectrum of the X 2II state of GeCH, which previously have been termed "Sears resonances" [S.-G. He, H. Li, T. C. Smith, D. J. Clouthier, and A. J. Merer, J. Chem. Phys. 119, 10115 (2003)]. The X 2II vibronic spectra of the series BS2, CS2+, OCS+, and OBS illustrate the interplay of nonrelativistic and relativistic vibronic-coupling mechanisms in Renner-Teller systems.     

A vacuum ultraviolet pulsed field ionization-photoelectron study of cyanogen cation in the energy range of 13.2-15.9 eV

The vacuum ultraviolet pulsed field ionization-photoelectron and photoionization efficiency spectra of NCCN have been measured in the energy region of 13.25-17.75 eV. The analyses of these spectra have provided accurate ionization energy (IE) values of 13.371+/-0.001, 14.529+/-0.001, 14.770+/-0.001, and 15.516+/-0.001 eV for the formation of NCCN(+) in the X(2)Pi(g), A(2)Sigma(g) (+), B(2)Sigma(u) (+), and C(2)Pi(u) states, respectively. The ionization energy [NCCN(+)(B(2)Sigma(u) (+))] value determined here indicates that the origin of the NCCN(+)(B(2)Sigma(u) (+)) state lies lower in energy by 25 meV than previously reported. A set of spectroscopic parameters for NCCN(+)(X(2)Pi(g)) has been calculated using high level ab initio calculations. The experimental spectra are found to consist of ionizing transitions populating the vibronic levels of NCCN(+), which consist of pure vibronic progressions, combination modes involving the symmetric CN stretch, the CC stretch, and even quanta of the antisymmetric CN stretch, and bending vibrations. These bands are identified with the guidance of the present ab initio calculations.     

Ultraviolet photochemistry of trichlorovinylsilane and allyltrichlorosilane: vinyl radical (HCCH2) and allyl radical (H2CCHCH2) production in 193 nm photolysis

The absolute gas phase ultraviolet absorption spectra of trichlorovinylsilane and allyltrichlorosilane have been measured from 191 to 220 nm. Over this region the absorption spectra of both species are broad and relatively featureless, and their cross sections increase with decreasing wavelength. The electronic transitions of trichlorovinylsilane were calculated by ab initio quantum chemical methods and the observed absorption bands assigned to the A(1)A'<-- X[combining tilde](1)A' transition. The maximum absorption cross section in the region, at 191 nm, is sigma = (8.50 +/- 0.06) x 10(-18) cm(2) for trichlorovinylsilane and sigma = (2.10 +/- 0.02) x 10(-17) cm(2) for allyltrichlorosilane. The vinyl radical and the allyl radical are formed promptly from the 193 nm photolysis of their respective trichlorosilane precursors. By comparison of the transient visible absorption and the 1315 nm I atom absorption from 266 nm photolysis of vinyl iodide and allyl iodide, the absorption cross sections at 404 nm of vinyl radical ((2.9 +/- 0.4) x 10(-19) cm(2)) and allyl radical ((3.6 +/- 0.8) x 10(-19) cm(2)) were derived. These cross sections are in significant disagreement with literature values derived from kinetic modeling of allyl or vinyl radical self-reactions. Using these cross sections, the vinyl radical yield from trichlorovinylsilane was determined to be phi = (0.9 +/- 0.2) per 193 nm photon absorbed, and the allyl radical yield from allyltrichlorosilane phi = (0.7 +/- 0.2) per 193 nm photon absorbed.     

Vibrational structure of vinyl chloride cation studied by using one-photon zero-kinetic energy photoelectron spectroscopy

The vibrational structure of vinyl chloride cation, CH(2)CHCl+ (X(2)A' '), has been studied by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) zero-kinetic energy (ZEKE) photoelectron spectroscopy. Among nine symmetric vibrational modes, the fundamental frequencies of six modes have been determined. The first overtone of the out-of-plane CH(2) twist vibrational mode has been also measured. In addition to these, the combination and overtone bands of the above vibrational modes about 4500 cm(-1) above the ground state have been observed in the ZEKE spectrum. The vibrational band intensities of the ZEKE spectrum can be described approximately by the Franck-Condon factors with harmonic approximation. The ZEKE spectrum has been assigned based on the harmonic frequencies and Franck-Condon factors from theoretical calculations. The ionization energy (IE) of CH(2)CHCl is determined as 80705.5 +/- 2.5 (cm(-1)) or 10.0062 +/- 0.0003 (eV).     

Theoretical studies on low-lying electronic states of cyanocarbene HCCN and its ionic states

Geometries of 10, 7, and 6 low-lying states of the HCCN neutral radical, its anion and cation, were optimized by using the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) method in conjunction with the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set, respectively. Taking the further correlation effects into account, the second-order perturbations (CASPT2) were carried out for the energetic correction. Vertical excitation energies (T(v)) at the ground state geometry of the HCCN neutral radical were calculated for 11 states. The results of our calculations suggest that the spin-allowed transitions of HCCN at 4.179, 4.395, 4.579, 4.727 and 5.506 eV can be attributed to X(3)A' --> 2(3)A', X(3)A' --> (3)A', X(3)A --> 3(3)A', X(3)A' --> 2(3)A', and X(3)A' --> 3(3)A', respectively. The singlet-triplet splitting gap of HCCN is calculated to be 0.738 eV. The vertical and adiabatic ionization energies were obtained to compare with the PES data. The results we obtained were consistent with the available experiment results.     

Physical properties and spectra of IO, IO- and HOI studied by ab initio methods

Structure and properties of the IO, IO- and HOI species, which are of potential importance for the ozone destruction catalytic cycle in the troposphere, have been calculated together with the EPR, NMR and UV-visible spectra by ab initio methodology with account of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) effects. Multi-configuration self-consistent field calculations with linear and quadratic response techniques and the multi-reference configuration interaction method have been employed. Photodissociation of these species, crucial for the catalytic ozone-destruction cycle, is critically reviewed and analyzed. Calculations predict that the singlet-triplet (S-T) transition to the lowest triplet state (X1 A' --> 3A') should be responsible for the weak long-wavelength tail absorption (approximately 450-560 nm) and photodissociation of the HOI molecule. The second, more intense, band around 400 nm is produced by two overlapping S-S and S-T transitions. In order to check this assignment of the HOI photodissociation the isoelectronic IO- anion and IO radical have been studied by the same methods. Comparison with the EPR spectrum of the IO radical indicates that the methods are reliable which gives credit to the accuracy of the HOI spectral interpretation. NMR spectra of HOI and IO- molecules and some other properties are calculated for the first time.     

Photodissociation dynamics of the ethoxy radical investigated by photofragment coincidence imaging

The photodissociation dynamics of the ethoxy radical (CH3CH2O) have been studied at energies from 5.17 to 5.96 eV using photofragment coincidence imaging. The upper state of the electronic transition excited at these energies is assigned to the C2A'state on the basis of electronic structure calculations. Fragment mass distributions show two photodissociation channels, OH + C2H4 and CH3 + CH2O. The presence of an additional photodissociation channel, identified as D + C2D4O, is revealed in time-of-flight distributions from the photodissociation of CD3CD2O. The product branching ratios and fragment translational energy distributions for all of the observed mass channels are nonstatistical. Moreover, the significant yield of OH + C2H4 product suggests that the mechanism for this channel involves isomerization on the excited-state surface. Photodissociation at a much lower yield is seen following excitation at 3.91 eV, corresponding to a vibronic band of the B2A' <-- X2A' transition.     

Spectroscopic and computational studies on the rearrangement of ionized [1.1.1]propellane and some of its valence isomers: the key role of vibronic coupling

The [1.1.1]propellane radical cation 1(?+), generated by radiolytic oxidation of the parent compound in argon and Freon matrices at low temperatures, undergoes a spontaneous rearrangement to form the distonic 1,1-dimethyleneallene (or 2-vinylideneallyl) radical cation 3(?+) consisting of an allyl radical substituted at the 2-position by a vinyl cation. In similar matrix studies, it is found that the isomeric dimethylenecyclopropane radical cation 2(?+) also rearranges to 3(?+). The unusual molecular and electronic structure of 3(?+) has been established by the results of ESR, UV-vis, and IR spectroscopic measurements in conjunction with detailed theoretical calculations. Also of particular interest is an NIR photoinduced reaction by which 3(?+) is cleanly converted to the vinylidenecyclopropane radical cation 4(?+), a process that can be represented in terms of a single electron transfer from the allyl radical to the vinyl cation followed by allyl cation cyclization. The specificity of this photochemical reaction provides additional strong chemical evidence for the structure of 3(?+). Theoretical calculations reveal the decisive role of vibronic coupling in shaping the potential energy surfaces on which the observed ring-opening reactions take place. Thus vibronic interaction in 1(?+) mixes the (2)A(1)' ground state, characterized by its "non-bonding" 3a(1)' SOMO, with the (2)E' first excited state resulting in the destabilization of a lateral C-C bond and the initial formation of the methylenebicyclobutyl radical cation 5(?+). The further rearrangement of 5(?+) to 3(?+) occurs via 2(?+) and proceeds through two additional lateral C-C bond cleavages characterized by transition states of extremely low energy, thereby explaining the absence of identifiable intermediates along the reaction pathway. In these consecutive ring-opening rearrangements, the "non-bonding" bridgehead C-C bond in 1(?+) is conserved and ultimately transformed into a normal bond characterized by a shorter C-C bond length. This work provides strong support for the Heilbronner-Wiberg interpretation of the vibrational structure in the photoelectron spectrum of 1 in terms of vibronic coupling.     

Absorption spectra of ground-state and low-lying electronic States of copper nitrosyl: a rare gas matrix isolation study

The reaction of ground-state Cu atoms with NO during condensation in solid argon, neon, and binary argon/neon mixtures has been reinvestigated. In addition to the ground-state already characterized in rare gas matrixes by its nu1 mode in reactions of laser-ablated Cu with nitric oxide, another very low lying electronic state is observed for CuNO in solid argon. Photoconversion and equilibrium processes are observed between the two lowest lying electronic states following photoexcitations to second and third excited states in the visible and near-infrared. The electronic spectrum of the CuNO complex was also recorded to understand the photoconversion processes. In solid neon, only the ground state (probably 1A') and the second and third excited states are observed. This suggests that interaction with the argon cage stabilizes the triplet state to make 1A' and 3A' ' states almost isoenergetic in solid argon. On the basis of previous predictions founded on DFT calculations on the very low lying 1A' and 3A' ', a mechanism is proposed, involving the singlet-triplet state manifolds. For these two lower and one higher electronic states, 14N/15N, 16O/18O, and 63Cu/65Cu isotopic data on nu1, nu2, and nu3 have been measured. On the basis of harmonic force-field calculations and relative intensities in the vibronic progressions, some structural parameters are estimated. The molecule is bent in all electronic states, with Cu-N-O bond angles varying slightly around 130 +/- 10 degrees , but the Cu-N bond force constants are substantially different, denoting larger differences in bond lengths.     

Is the HCCS radical linear in the excited state?

The A (2)Pi-X (2)Pi 415 nm band system of the linear HCCS radical has been known since 1978, but the vibronic structure in this complex spectrum, which has both spin-orbit and Renner-Teller complications, has never been satisfactorily assigned, despite serious experimental and theoretical efforts. In a further attempt to understand the spectrum, we have studied the laser-induced fluorescence spectra of jet-cooled HCCS and DCCS, produced from thiophene precursors using the discharge jet technique. The 0(0) (0) bands of HCCS and DCCS have been rotationally analyzed, providing precise ground and excited state spin-orbit splittings. The energy levels of the v(')=0 (2)Pi(3/2) component of DCCS are found to be perturbed by a very low-lying (2)Sigma vibronic level, indicating that the HCC bending mode Renner-Teller effect is much larger than predicted by ab initio calculations with a linear excited state geometry. With this observation, the vibronic bands in the spectra of both isotopomers have been consistently assigned for the first time. Model calculations show that the large Renner-Teller effect and substantially different HCCS and DCCS excited state zero-point spin-orbit splittings can be explained with the assumption of a quasilinear excited state geometry.     

Electronic spectroscopy of the A1A" <--> X1A' system of CDBr

We report fluorescence excitation and single vibronic level emission spectra of jet-cooled CDBr in the 450-750 nm region. A total of 32 cold bands involving the pure bending levels 2(0)n with n=3-10 and combination bands 2(0)n3(0)1 (n=2-10), 2(0)n3(0)2 (n=2-9), 1(0)(1)2(0)n (n=7-10), and 1(0)(1)2(0)n3(0)(1) (n=6,8-9) in the A1A" <-- X1A' system of this carbene were observed; most of these are reported and/or rotationally analyzed here for the first time. Rotational analysis yielded band origins and effective (B) rotational constants for both bromine isotopomers (CD79Br and CD81Br). The derived A1A" vibrational intervals are combined with results of Yu et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 115, 5433 (2001)] to derive barriers to linearity for the 2n, 2n3(1), and 2n3(2) progressions. The A1A" state C-D stretching frequency (2350 cm(-1)) is determined for the first time, in excellent agreement with theory, as are the 79Br-81Br isotope splittings in the excited state. Our emission spectra probe the vibrational structure of the X1A' and a3A" states up to approximately 9000 cm(-1) above the vibrationless level of the X1A' state; the total number of levels observed is around twice that previously reported. Unlike CHBr, where even the lowest bending levels are perturbed by spin-orbit interaction with the triplet origin, the term energy of every level save one below 3000 cm(-1) in CDBr is reproduced by a Dunham expansion to within a standard deviation of 1 cm(-1), and a spin-orbit coupling matrix element of approximately 330 cm(-1) is derived from a deperturbation analysis of the triplet origin. The multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) calculations of Yu et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 115, 5433 (2001)] well reproduce triplet perturbations in the pure bending manifold, and globally, the vibrational frequencies of X1A', a3A", and A1A" are in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions.     

Laser-induced fluorescence and pure rotational spectroscopy of the CH2CHS (vinylthio) radical

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) excitation spectra of the B-X (2)A(") electronic transition of the CH(2)CHS radical, which is the sulfur analog of the vinoxy (CH(2)CHO) radical, were observed under room temperature and jet-cooled conditions. The LIF excitation spectra show very poor vibronic structures, since the fluorescence quantum yields of the upper vibronic levels are too small to detect fluorescence, except for the vibrationless level in the B state. A dispersed fluorescence spectrum of jet-cooled CH(2)CHS from the vibrationless level of the B state was also observed, and vibrational frequencies in the X state were determined. Precise rotational and spin-rotation constants in the ground vibronic level of the radical were determined from pure rotational spectroscopy using a Fourier-transform microwave (FTMW) spectrometer and a FTMW-millimeter wave double-resonance technique [Y. Sumiyoshi et al., J. Chem. Phys. 123, 054324 (2005)]. The rotationally resolved LIF excitation spectrum for the vibronic origin band of the jet-cooled CH(2)CHS radical was analyzed using the ground state molecular constants determined from pure rotational spectroscopy. Determined molecular constants for the upper and lower electronic states agree well with results of ab initio calculations.