Ab initio calculations on urea

Multiconfiguration wave functions constructed from contracted Gaussian-lobe functions have been found for the ground and valence-excited states of urea. ICSCF molecular orbitals of the excited states were used as the parent configurations for the CI calculations except for the ¹A₁(π → π*) state. The ¹A₁(π → π*) state used as its parent configuration an orthogonal linear combination of natural orbitals obtained from the second root of a three-configuration SCF calculation. The lowest excited states are predicted to be the n π → π* and π → π* triplet states. The lowest singlet state is predicted to be the n π → π* state with an energy in good agreement with the one known UV band at 7.2 eV. The π → π* singlet state is predicted to be about 1.9 eV higher, contrary to several previous assignments which assumed the lowest band was a π → π* amide resonance band. The predicted ionization energy of 9.0 eV makes this and higher states autoionizing.     

Electronic structure of benzaldehyde: A comparative study of the lowest excited singlet π* ← π and π* ← n states

VE-PPP, CNDO/2, and CNDO/s-CI methods have been used to investigate the electronic spectrum and structure of benzaldehyde. Electronic charge distributions and bond orders in the ground and lowest excited singlet π* ← π and π* ← n states of the molecule have been studied. The molecule has been shown to be nonplanar in the lowest π* ← n excited singlet state, in agreement with the conclusions drawn from the study of vibrational spectra. Dipole moments in both excited states have been shown to be larger than the ground-state value. Thus, the ambiguity in the experimental result for the π* ← π n excited singlet state dipole moment has been resolved. It has been shown that the n orbital is mainly localized on the CHO group. Furthermore, charge distributions, dipole moments, and molecular geometries are shown to be very different in the excited singlet π* ← π and π* ← n states.     

Electronic spectra of 2-methoxypyridine and 2-methoxy-d3-pyridine

The electronic absorption spectrum of 2-methoxypyridine in the vapour and solution phases and 2-methoxy-d₃-pyridine in the vapour state in the region 3000–2450 Å and the luminescence spectra of 2-methoxypyridine in ethanol at 77 K have been measured and analysed. The oscillator strength of the absorption band system due to the π → π* transition and the excited state dipole moment in the ¹π,π* state have been estimated for 2-methoxypyridine.     

Effect of Solvents on the Spectra of Some β-Diketones

Acetoacetanilide, benzoylacetanilide and their derivatives have been examined in ultraviolet region in a series of solvents covering a broad polarity range e. e. from chloroform (Z, 63.2) to methanol (Z .83.6). Transition energies and oscillator strengths have been calculated and transition energy (E_T) has been plotted against Z-values, a new empirical measurement of solvent polarity. A linear relationship was observed between the transition energy and Z-values for π → π* and n → π* transitions. These transitions are identified as charge transfer (c-t) transitions and with the solvents having carbonyl oxygen and sulphur atom a c-t complex formation has been suggested. Strong electron-donating substituents on phenyl group of the nitrogen atom also showed a weak to moderate n → π* transitions. These substituents have no influence on the position of the λ_max in the same solvent. Stabilization energy of the excited state of these ligands and hence the dipole moments of the excited states have been calculated in comparison with pyridinium iodide. Solvent sensitivities of these ligands have also been calculated.     

Electronic absorption spectrum and excited state dipole moment of 2,6-difluoropyridine

The u.v. absorption spectrum of 2,6-difluoropyridine in the region 41 000-34 000 cm⁻¹ in the vapour state and in solution has been recorded and a vibronic analysis made. Only one system of bands arising from the π → π* transition has been observed and the 0,0 band is located at 37 840 cm⁻¹ in the vapour-phase spectrum. The oscillator strength of the band system in solution and the dipole moment in the excited state associated with the transition were determined.     

The electronic absorption spectrum and excited state dipole moment of 3-fluoropyridine

The electronic absorption spectrum of 3-fluoropyridine in the vapour state and in solutions in different solvents in the region 3000-1900 Å has been measured and analysed. Three systems of absorption bands; n→π* transition I, π→π* transition II and π→π* transition III are identified. The oscillator strength of the absorption band systems due to the π→π* transition II and π→π* transition III and the excited state dipole moments associated with these transitions have been determined by the solvent-shift method.     

The effect of solvents on the electronic absorption spectra of mesoionic 1,8,4 thiadiazolium-2-thiolate derivatives

The electronic absorption spectra of 4,5-diphenyl-, 4-pheriyl-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-, 4-phenyl-5-(4-chlorophenyI)-, and 4-phenyl-.5-methyl-1,3,4-lhiadiazolium-2-thiolates have been measured in twenty-one pure solvents, aqueous ethanol and acetone solutions and cyclohexane-chloroform mixtures. They were found to exhibit three characteristic absorption bands; the first in the range 330-440 nm, the second at 260-280 run and the third near 200 ran. The first band was assigned to n → π* transition whereas the other two bands were assigned to π →π* transition. The n → π* transition band was found to be very sensitive, and the polarity of solvents, and some correlations between well-known solvent polarity parameters and the transition energies of these compounds have been presented.     

The magnetic circular dichroism spectrum of acetylene

The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectrum of gas phase acetylene has been studied in the spectral region 320-140 nm. No MCD signal was detected in the region of the first transition. The observation of irregular MCD bands beginning at 185 nm confirm assignment of this latter band as the 0-0 band of the second transition. The discrete and relatively narrow bands in the region 155-140 nm exhibit pure A-term character, lending unambiguous confirmation to the assignment of ¹Π_u for the state. The observed absorption spectrum in this region is interpreted as consisting of two non-interacting systems, one involving the ¹Π_u Rydberg state and the other, a broad continuous background, cannot be assigned. It is however suggested that it may be due to the ¹Σ_u⁺ state of the π → π^* excited configuration.     

Dipole moments,transition moments,oscillator strengths,radiative lifetimes,and overtone intensities for CH and CH+ as computed by quasi-degenerate many-body perturbation theory

The correlated, size-consistent, ab initio effective valence-shell dipole operator (μ^v) method is used to calculate dipole moments and transition dipole moments of the CH molecule and transition dipole moments of the CH⁺ ion as a function of internuclear distance. The dipole and transition dipole moments computed here compare well with those of other accurate ab initio methods. The transition dipole moments are then used to calculate oscillator strengths and radiative lifetimes for the A → X and B → A transitions of the CH⁺ ion and the A → X transition of the CH molecule. Comparisons are made with the best available theoretical and experimental lifetimes. Finally, the CH ground-state dipole moment function is used to evaluate overtone intensities and to examine simple models of the CH overtone intensities in polyatomic molecules.     

The electronic structure and optical activity of conjugated dienes: 1,3-Butadiene and α- and β-phellandrene

The optical activity of conjugated dienes is investigated by means of ab initio SCF–CI calculations. The computed electronic spectrum of trans-1,3-butadiene is shown to be in good agreement with the results of more rigorous calculations of the valence transitions and in satisfactory agreement with experiment. The optical rotatory strengths of the lower electronic transitions of twisted 1,3-butadiene as a function of dihedral angle are presented and simulated CD spectra are produced. The N → V₁ (π₂ → π₃*) transition is predicted to have a positive rotational strength for all dihedral angles that correspond to a right-handed twist of the chromophore, in accord with the empirically deduced “diene rule” although for a twist angle of 60°, the rotatory strength is calculated to be almost zero. The role of the orientation of allylic bonds is investigated in the model system 1-butene in which the rotational strength of the π → π* transition as a function of rotation about the 2,3 bond is determined. The effect of allylic bond disposition in dienes on the optical activity of the long-wavelength π₂ → π₃* transition is simulated by use of the exciton coupling model of Harada and Nakanishi in which two 1-butene molecules with suitable geometries are coupled via interactions of the electric dipole transition moments of their π → π* transitions. The model systems 1,3-butadiene and 1-butene are used to rationalize the apparently anomalous optical activity of (?)-α-phellandrene and (?)-β-phellandrene, both of which should have a diene chromophore with a right-handed twist in their most stable conformers and so should be dextrorotatory. The experimental CD spectrum of α-phellandrene is determined at several temperatures down to ?180°C. The observed variation of the apparent rotational strength of the N → V₁ transition is in good agreement with that predicted by use of the exciton coupling model.     

π* ← n electronic absorption spectrum of 2,6-dichloropyrazine

The π* ← n electronic absorption system of 2,6-dichloropyrazine, corresponding to the ¹B_3u ← ¹A_1g transition of pyrazine, has been recorded in the vapour phase and in solution in cyclohexane. A vibrational analysis of this system has been proposed and it is shown that vibronic interaction between two excited states of 2,6-dichloropyrazine exists. Another system is observed in the solution spectrum of this molecule in cyclohexane and it is shown to be a π* ← π transition analogous to the ¹B_2u ← ¹A_1g transition in pyrazine.     

Spezifisch π→π*-induzierte Reaktionen von γ-Dimethoxymethylcyclohexen-2-onen: 1,3-Umlagerung und Wasserstoffabstraktion durch das α-Kohlenstoffatom

When α,β-unsaturated γ-dimethoxymethyl cyclohexenones are excited to the S₂(π,π*) state, certain unimolecular reactions can be observed to compete with S₂ → S₁ internal conversion. These reactions do not occur from the S₁(n,π*) or the lowest T(π,π* and n,π*) states. They comprise the radical elimination of the formylacetal substituent (cf. 8 , 9 → 32 + 33 ), γ → α formylacetal migration (cf. 6 → 27 , 8 → 30 , 9 → 34 , 12 → 37 ), and a cyclization process involving the transfer of a methoxyl hydrogen to the α carbon and ring closure at the β position (cf. 6 → 28 , 8 → 31 , 12 → 38 , 20 → 40 + 41 ). The quantum yield of the ring closure 20a → 40a + 41a is 0.016 at ≤ 0.05M concentration. It is independent of the excitation wavelength within the π→π* absorption band (238–254 nm), but Φ ( 40a + 41a ) decreases at higher concentrations. According to the experimental data the reactive species of these specifically π→π*-induced transformations is placed energetically higher than the S₁(n,π*) state, and it is either identical with the thermally equilibrated S₂(n,π*) state, or reached via this latter state. The linear dienone 14 undergoes a similar π→π*-induced cyclization (→ 42 ) whereas the benzohomologue 26 proved unreactive, and the dienone 22 at both n → π and π→π* excitation only gives rise to rearrangements generally characteristic of cross-conjugated cyclohexadienones.     

Excited state dipole moments and geometries of the bases of nucleic acids

CNDO/s-CI and VE-PPP methods have been employed to calculate the dipole moments of the bases of nucleic acids in the ground and excited states. A component analysis in terms of μ_hyb^(σ), μ_ch and μ_π has been done using the CNDO/s-CI method and these results have been compared with those obtained by the CNDO/2 and IEHT methods. It is observed that while the CNDO/2 and CNDO/s-CI methods give almost the same total dipole moments, component-wise their predictions are very different.Dipole moments of the molecules have also been studied for the lowest excited singlet and triplet π^* ← π states. It is observed that the conventional method of calculating dipole moments using changes of only the net charges in the excited state does not give correct results for uracil and thymine, for which experimental results are available. Considering deformed non-planar excited state geometries for these molecules, the observed excited state dipole moments have been explained. A method has been suggested to include the effects of non-planarity while calculating the properties of a complex molecule in a π^* ← π excited state. For adenine, guanine and cytosine, the excited state dipole moments are found to be smaller than the ground state values.     

Study of the electronic spectra of 2-fluoro-5-chloropyridine and determination of the excited state dipole moment

The ultraviolet absorption spectrum in the region 300-190 nm in the vapour phase and in solution in different solvents, and the luminescence emission spectra in ethanol and cyclohexane at 77 K have been measured for 2-fluoro-5-chloropyridine and analysed. The molecule shows two systems of absorption bands corresponding to the π→π* transition II and π→π* transition III. The oscillator strength of the two systems of absorption bands in solutions and the excited state dipole moment in the ¹π, π* state have been determined. The half-life of phosphorescence in cyclohexane is measured and found to be 3·6 s.     

On the photochemical conversion of an alpha, beta-unsaturated gamma, delta-epoxy ketone: 3-oxo-6-alpha, 7-alpha-oxide-17-beta-acetoxy-Delta-androstane

The α,β-unsaturated γ,δ-epoxyketone 7 is isomerized almost exclusively to the δ-diketone 9 both upon irradiation in the n → π* absorption band with light of wavelengths above 310 nm (in anhydrous dioxane or benzene solutions) and upon triplet sensitization using acetophenone in benzene. The reaction may be formulated by the cleavage of the C_γ? O oxide bond and the shift of the δ-hydrogen to the γ-position, and thus bears a formal “double bond homology” to the photochemical α,β-epoxyketone rearrangement. Excitation in the π → π* absorption band of 7 with light of wavelength 253,7 nm (in anhydrous dioxane solution) leads to the formation of product 10 as well as to the triplet rearrangement to 9 . With this result a novel partial synthesis of O-acetyl-B-nortestosterone has been accomplished, which has the advantages of fewer steps and higher product yield ( 7 → 10 : ～30% yield) than previously published syntheses. On the basis of the presently available experiments, the mechanism of the transformation 7 → 10 , which constitutes one of the still few examples of enone photoreactions induced selectively from the π,π* excited singlet, remains unknown.     

Photochemische Reaktionen 49. Mitteilung [1] Spezifisch π → π*-induzierte Keton-Photoreaktionen: Die Doppelbindungsverschiebung von O-Acetyl-10α-testosteron Protonisierung der Doppelbindung seines δ5-Isomeren

The α,β-unsatured ketone 10α-testosterone has been reported previously [6] to photoisomerize in t-butanol solution to the β,γ-unsaturated ketone. The irradiation had been carried out using a high-pressure mercury lamp in a quartz vessel. For structural reasons this double bond shift cannot proceed through a photoenolization mechanism involving an intramolecular hydrogen transfer from the γ-position to the enone oxygen as has been suggested to operate in several formally analogous cases of aliphatic enone isomerizations. In the present reinvestigation, O-acetyl 10α-testosterone ( 1 ) was used, employing selectively either excitation of its n → π* (with wavelengths > 300 nm) or its π → π* absorption band (with 253,7 nm). In t-butanol solution the doublebond shift 1 → 2 could be effected with π→* excitation only. Experiments in deuterated solvent (t-BuOD) resulted in deuterium in corporation in both the δ5-ketone in the C(4)-position, cf.( 3 ) and in the conjugated ketone. These results indicate that the reactions is initiated either in the, S_π,π* state or in a high vibrational mode of the S₀ or t_ππ*state. n→ π* Excitation of 1 in t-butanol gave essentially no over-all chemical change, while in benzene solution it resulted again in a double bond isomerization ( 1 → 2 ). In analogy to results with similar enones [28] under identical conditions the deconjugation in benzene may be the consequence of an intermolecular hydrogen abstraction of the T_n,π* excited state of the enone. Another specifically π →π* induced photoreaction was observed on irradiation of the β, γ-unsaturated ketone 2 in t-BuOD with 253,7 nm. The olefinic hydrogen at C-6 of 2 was exchanged with deuterium and, to a small extent, isomerization to the conjugated ketone 1 with concomitant deuterium incorporation occurred. It is concluded that from the higher excited state of the β, γ-unsaturated ketone, but not from its S_n,π* state, an activation mode of the double bond is accessible to effect D+ addition at C-6 followed by deprotonation to 4 and to deuterated 1 , respectively.     

Molecular electric properties in electronic excited states: multipole moments and polarizabilities of H2O in the lowest1 B 1 and3 B 1 excited states

Summary The dipole and quadrupole moments and the dipole polarizability tensor components are calculated for the¹ B ₁ and³ B ₁ excited states of the water molecule by using the complete active space (CAS) SCF method and an extended basis set of atomic natural orbitals. The dipole moment in the lowest¹ B ₁ (0.640 a.u.) and³ B ₁ (0.416 a.u.) states is found to be antiparallel to that in the ground electronic state of H₂O. The shape of the quadrupole moment ellipsoid is significantly modified by the electronic excitation to both states investigated in this paper. All components of the excited state dipole polarizability tensor increase by about an order of magnitude compared to their values in the ground electronic state. The present results are used to discuss some aspects of intermolecular interactions involving molecules in their excited electronic states.     

Interactions steriques et transitions electroniques spectres ultra-violet de Δ4 thiazolinethiones-2 et méthylthio-2 thiazolium polyalcoyles

Steric effects on electronic transitions for the systems 1 and 2 are reported. The π → π transitions studied are defined precisely by means of PPP and CNDO/s calculations. Application of the Winstein-Holness-Eliel relation to the whole set of results for system 1 explains the behaviour of the 320 nm band with variation of R₃, R₄ and R₅. A gearing effect is operative in this series of compounds. An explanation is given for the different ultraviolet properties of rotamers A and B. This explanation rests on the assumption that the CS bond is “bulkier” in the fundamental state than in the excited state. For the quaternary salts 2 no variations arising from steric effects are apparent for the band in the 290 nm region. This constancy is explained by the localisation of the considered transition in the system.     

Tayloring standard TDDFT approaches for computing UV/Vis transitions in thiocarbonyl chromophores

We report the development of an accurate computational procedure for the calculation of the n → π* (λ_max?1) and π → π* (λ_max?2) transitions of a set of thiocarbonyl derivatives. To ensure converged results, all calculations are carried out using the 6‐311+G(2df,p) basis set for time‐dependent calculations, and the 6‐311G(2df,p) for the ground‐state geometrical optimization. Starting with two hybrids, PBE0 and B3LYP, the Hartree–Fock exchange percentage (α) used is optimized in order to reach excitation energies that fit experimental data. It turns out that BLYP(α) is the more adequate functional for calibration. For the n → π* excitation, the optimal α value lies in the 0.10–0.20 interval, whereas for the π → π* process setting α equal to 0.10 provides the most accurate results. The corresponding mean absolute errors (MAE) are limited to 17 nm for λ_max?1, and to 10 nm for λ_max?2, allowing a consistent and accurate prediction of both transitions. We also assess the merits of the ZINDO//AM1 scheme and it turns out that the semi‐empirical method only provides a poor prediction of the λ_max of thiocarbonyl derivatives, especially for the n → π* transition. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

AB initio study of the low-lying excited states of cyclopropene by the equations-of-motion method

The lowest singlet and triplet excited states of cyclopropene have been investigated with the equations-of-motion method. The first spectral band is due to a singlet transition arising from π → 3s,3p excitations. The other two band systems are associated with clusters of transitions predominantly of Rydberg nature or strong admixtures of valence-valence and valence-Rydberg excitations. The first triplet transition is mainly of π → π character.