Electronic spectroscopy of the E<--X transition of NO-Kr and shielding/penetration effects in Rydberg states of NO-Rg complexes

We report the results of a (2+1) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) study of the E2Sigma+(4ssigma) Rydberg state of NO-Kr. We present an assignment of the two-photon spectrum based on a simulation, and discuss it in the context of previously-reported spectra of NO-Ne and NO-Ar. In addition, we report on spectra in the region of the vNO=1 level of the E, F and H' 4s and 3d Rydberg states of NO-Rg (Rg=Ne-Kr). Since the NO vibrational frequency is affected by electron donation from the rare-gas (Rg) atom to the NO+ core, as well as by the penetration of the Rydberg electron, the fundamental NO-stretch frequency reflects the interactions in the complex. The results indicate that the 4s Rydberg state has a strong interaction between the NO+ core and the Kr atom, as was the case for NO-Ar and NO-Ne. For the 3d Rydberg states, although penetration is not as significant as for the 4s Rydberg states, it does play an important role, with subtle angular effects being notable.     

The binding energies of NO-Rg (Rg = He, Ne, Ar) determined by velocity map imaging

We report velocity map imaging measurements of the binding energies, D(0), of NO-Rg (Rg = He, Ne, Ar) complexes. The X state binding energies determined are 3.0 ± 1.8, 28.6 ± 1.7, and 93.5 ± 0.9 cm(-1) for NO-He, -Ne, and -Ar, respectively. These values compare reasonably well with ab initio calculations. Because the ?-X transitions were unable to be observed for NO-He and NO-Ne, values for the binding energies in the ? state of these complexes have not been determined. Based on our X state value and the reported ?-X origin band position, the ? state binding energy for NO-Ar was determined to be 50.6 ± 0.9 cm(-1).     

Mg2H2: new insight on the Mg-Mg bonding and spectroscopic study

The six dimensional potential energy surface of the electronic ground state X?(1)Σ(g)(+) of Mg(2)H(2) has been generated by the coupled-cluster approach with single, double and perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)] combined with the aug-cc-pCVTZ basis set for Mg atoms and the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set for the H atoms. The analytical representation of this surface was used in variational calculations of the rovibrational energies of Mg(2)H(2), Mg(2)D(2), and HMg(2)D for J = 0 and 1. For Mg(2)H(2), the rotational constant B(0) is computed to be 0.1438 cm(-1), and the fundamental anharmonic wavenumbers are calculated to be ν(1) = 1527.3 cm(-1) (Σ(g)(+)), ν(2) = 275.3 cm(-1) (Σ(g)(+)), ν(3) = 1503.6 cm(-1) (Σ(u)(+)), ν(4) = 312.9 cm(-1) (Π(g)), and ν(5) = 256.5 cm(-1) (Π(u)). In addition, the electronic ground states of Mg(2)H, MgH(2), Mg(2), and MgH have been investigated in order to compute the bonding energies of Mg(2)H(2) and to explain the strength of the Mg-Mg bond in this tetra-atomic molecule. The nature of the low-lying excited states of Mg(2)H(2) is also studied.     

Wave function delocalization and large-amplitude vibrations of helium on corrugated aromatic microsurfaces: tetracene.He and pentacene.He van der Waals complexes

We report accurate quantum three-dimensional calculations of highly excited intermolecular vibrational states of the van der Waals (vdW) complexes tetracene.He and pentacene.He in the S1 excited electronic state. The aromatic molecules were taken to be rigid and the intermolecular potential energy surfaces (IPESs) were modeled as a sum of atom-atom Lennard-Jones pair potentials. The IPESs are corrugated in the direction of the long (x) axis of the aromatic molecules, due to the presence of the symmetrically equivalent global double minimum for tetracene.He, and a triple minimum (central global minimum and two equivalent local minima) for pentacene.He, on each side of the aromatic plane. Both IPESs have two additional minor equivalent local minima further away from the center of the molecule. The vdW vibrational states analyzed in this work cover about 80% of the well depths of the IPESs. The mode coupling is generally weak for those states whose out-of-plane (z) mode is unexcited. However, the z-mode fundamental is strongly coupled to the short-axis (y) in-plane mode, so that the pure z-mode excitation could not be identified. The He atom exhibits large in-plane spatial delocalizaton already in the ground vdW vibrational state, which increases rapidly upon the excitation of the in-plane x and y modes, with little hindrance by the corrugation of the aromatic microsurfaces. For the vdW vibrational energies considered, the He atom spatial delocalization reaches Deltax and Deltay values of approximately 5 and 4 A, respectively, and is limited only by the finite size of the aromatic substrates. Side-crossing delocalization of the wave functions on both sides of the molecular plane is found at excitation energies >30 cm(-1), giving rise to the energy splittings of the pairs of states symmetric/antisymmetric with respect to the aromatic plane; the splittings show strong vdW vibrational mode specificity.     

Electronic spectroscopy and electronic structure of diatomic TiFe

Diatomic TiFe, a 12 valence electron molecule that is isoelectronic with Cr(2), has been spectroscopically investigated for the first time. In addition, the first computational study that includes the ground and excited electronic states is reported. Like Cr(2), TiFe has a (1)Σ(+) ground state that is dominated by the 1σ(2) 2σ(2) 1π(4) 1δ(4) configuration. Rotationally resolved spectroscopy has established a ground state bond length of 1.7024(3) A?, quite similar to that found for Cr(2) (r(0) = 1.6858 A?). Evidently, TiFe exhibits a high degree of multiple bonding. The vibronic spectrum is highly congested and intense to the blue of 20?000 cm(-1), while two extremely weak band systems, the [15.9](3)Π(1) ← X (1)Σ(+) and [16.2](3)Π(0+) ← X (1)Σ(+) systems, are found in the 16?000-18?500 cm(-1) region. The bond lengths, obtained by inversion of the B(e) (') values, and vibrational frequencies of the two upper states are nearly identical: 1.886?A? and 344 cm(-1) for [15.9](3)Π(1) and 1.884 A? and 349 cm(-1) for [16.2](3)Π(0+). The measured spin-orbit splitting of the (3)Π state is consistent with its assignment to the 1σ(2) 2σ(2) 1π(4) 1δ(3) 2π(1) configuration, as is also found in the ab initio calculations.     

He2+和He2++分子离子基态和激发态的特性研究

采用SAC/SAC-CI方法在CC-PV5Z基组下, 计算研究了He2+、He2++的基态及低激发态的分子特性, 给出了其基态和一些激发态的势能函数和光谱数据(Be、αe、ωe和ωeχe). 从群论出发推导了相应状态的离解极限；与已有实验结果的He2+(X2Σu+)相比, 计算结果令人满意. 还计算了激发态2Πu、4Σu+和4Πg的结构与光谱数据. 对于He2++, 计算的九个电子态中只有三个态(X1Σg+、1Σg+和1Σu+)属束缚态, 并得到了其光谱常数. 用价键理论模型的不相交规则对He2++基态的势能曲线极大点产生的原因做了较好的分析.     

Electronic states and spin-orbit splitting of lanthanum dimer

Lanthanum dimer (La(2)) was studied by mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectroscopy and a series of multi-configuration ab initio calculations. The MATI spectrum exhibits three band systems originating from ionization of the neutral ground electronic state, and each system shows vibrational frequencies of the neutral molecule and singly charged cation. The three ionization processes are La(2)(+) (a(2)∑(g)(+)) ← La(2) (X(1)∑(g)(+)), La(2)(+) (b(2)Π(3/2, u)) ← La(2) (X(1)∑(g)(+)), and La(2)(+) (b(2)Π(1/2, u)) ← La(2) (X(1)∑(g)(+)), with the ionization energies of 39,046, 40,314, and 40,864 cm(-1), respectively. The vibrational frequency of the X(1)Σ(g)(+) state is 207 cm(-1), and those of the a(2)Σ(g)(+), b(2)Π(3/2, u) and b(2)Π(1/2, u) are 235.7, 242.2, and 240 cm(-1). While X(1)Σ(g)(+) is the ground state of the neutral molecule, a(2)Σ(g (+) and b(2)Π(u) are calculated to be the excited states of the cation. The spin-orbit splitting in the b(2)Π(u) ion is 550 cm(-1). An X(4)Σ(g)(-) state of La(2)(+) was predicted by theory, but not observed by the experiment. The determination of a singlet ground state of La(2) shows that lanthanum behaves differently from scandium and yttrium.     

The role of atomic excited states of Au on N2O capture and activation: a multireference second-order perturbation theory study

Nitrous oxide (N(2)O) is an intermediate compound formed during catalysis occurring in automobile exhaust pipes. Atomic Au in its ground state is unable to react with N(2)O, however, several Au excited states are bound to N(2)O, but not all of these states are able to activate N(2)O bonds. In this work, N(2)O capture and activation by a single Au atom are studied considering Au in the ground and excited states with multiplicities = 2, 4 and 6. The Au + N(2)O reactions are studied at multireference second-order perturbation level of theory using C(s) symmetry. The AuN(2)O ((4)A', (4)A', (6)A' and (6)A') adducts are spontaneously created from Au excited states. From these complexes, only the (4)A', (6)A' and (6)A' states exhibit N(2)O activation reaction paths yielding N(2,) NO and O atoms as end products when N(2)O approaches Au excited states side-on. Cations both ground and excited states, capture N(2)O although only the Au(+) ((5)A') + N(2)O ((1)Σ(+)) → NAuNO(+) ((5)A') reaction (for the end-on and side-on approaches) shows N(2)O activation with N-N bond breaking. In the case of Au anions, the ground state and most of the excited states capture N(2)O and activation takes place according to Au(-) ((3)A', (5)A', (5)A') + N(2)O ((1)Σ(+)) → AuO(-) ((3)A', (5)A', (5)A') + N(2)(g) for the N(2)O end-on approach by the oxygen atom. The reaction paths show a metal-gas dative covalent bonding character. Mulliken charge population analysis obtained for the active states shows that the binding is done through charge donation and retro-donation between the metal and the N(2)O molecule.     

Spectroscopic investigations of ThF and ThF+

The electronic spectra of ThF and ThF(+) have been examined using laser induced fluorescence and resonant two-photon ionization techniques. The results from high-level ab initio calculations have been used to guide the assignment of these data. Spectra for ThF show that the molecule has an X (2)Δ(3/2) ground state. The upper spin-orbit component, X (2)Δ(5/2) was found at an energy of 2575(15) cm(-1). The low-lying states of ThF(+) were probed using dispersed fluorescence and pulsed field ionization-zero kinetic energy (PFI-ZEKE) photoelectron spectroscopy. Vibronic progressions belonging to four electronic states were identified. The lowest energy states were clearly (1)Σ(+) and (3)Δ(1). Although the energy ordering could not be rigorously determined, the evidence favors assignment of (1)Σ(+) as the ground state. The (3)Δ(1) state, of interest for investigation of the electron electric dipole moment, is just 315.0(5) cm(-1) above the ground state. The PFI-ZEKE measurements for ThF yielded an ionization energy of 51 581(3) cm(-1). Molecular constants show that the vibrational constant increases and the bond length shortens on ionization. This is consistent with removal of a non-bonding Th-centered 6d or 7s electron. Laser excitation of ThF(+) was used to probe electronically excited states in the range of 19,000-21,500 cm(-1).     

Experimental investigation of electronic states of LiCs dissociating to Li(2(2)S) and Cs(5(2)D) atoms

Polarization labeling spectroscopy technique was used to measure excitation spectra of LiCs molecule in the spectral range of 16,000-18,500 cm(-1). Four band systems were observed and assigned to transitions from the ground X(1)Σ(+) state to excited states (4)Ω = 0(+), (5)Ω = 0(+), (5)Ω = 1, and (6)Ω = 1 (in Hund's case (c) notation proper here), the latter three states being fine structure components of the states d(3)Π and e(3)Σ(+), nominally of triplet symmetry. The observed states are characterized spectroscopically and the experimental results are compared with predictions of theoretical calculations, showing accuracy of the theoretical electronic term values better than 100 cm(-1) and of the ω(e) and R(e) constants within 5%.     

Photoelectron imaging spectroscopy and theoretical investigation of ZrSi

The photoelectron spectrum of ZrSi(-) has been measured at two different photon energies: 2.33 eV and 3.49 eV, providing electron binding energy and photoelectron angular distribution information. The obtained vertical detachment energy of ZrSi(-) is 1.584(14) eV. The neutral ground and excited state terms are assigned based on experimental and theoretical results. The ground state of ZrSi is tentatively assigned as a (3)Σ(+) state with a configuration of 1σ(2) 1π(4) 1δ(0) 2σ(1) 3σ(1). A low lying (3)Π(i) neutral excited state is identified to be 0.238 eV (1919 cm(-1)) above the ground state. The anion ground state is designated as a (2)Σ(+) state with a 1σ(2) 1π(4) 1δ(0) 2σ(2) 3σ(1) valence electron configuration. A Franck-Condon (FC) simulation of the photoelectron spectrum has been carried out. For the (3)Σ(+) ← (2)Σ(+) band, theoretically calculated bond lengths and frequencies are used in the FC calculation which give good agreement with experiment, while for the (3)Π(i) ← (2)Σ(+) band, the ZrSi bond length is estimated from the FC spectrum. Comparisons are made with previously published theoretical studies and inconsistencies are pointed out. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first spectroscopic information on the transition metal-silicon diatomic, ZrSi.     

Electronic states and potential energy curves of molybdenum carbide and its ions

The potential energy curves and spectroscopic constants of the ground and 29 low-lying excited states of MoC with different spin and spatial symmetries within 48 000 cm(-1) have been investigated. We have used the complete active space multiconfiguration self-consistent field methodology, followed by multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) methods. Relativistic effects were considered with the aid of relativistic effective core potentials in conjunction with these methods. The results are in agreement with previous studies that determined the ground state as X (3)Sigma(-). At the MRCISD+Q level, the transition energies to the 1 (3)Delta and 4 (1)Delta states are 3430 and 8048 cm(-1), respectively, in fair agreement with the results obtained by DaBell et al. [J. Chem. Phy. 114, 2938 (2001)], namely, 4003 and 7834 cm(-1), respectively. The three band systems located at 18 611, 20 700, and 22 520 cm(-1) observed by Brugh et al. [J. Chem. Phy. 109, 7851 (1998)] were attributed to the excited 11 (3)Sigma(-), 14 (3)Pi, and 15 (1)Pi states respectively. At the MRCISD level, these states are 17 560, 20 836, and 20 952 cm(-1) above the ground state respectively. We have also identified a (3)Pi state lying 14 309 cm(-1) above the ground state. The ground states of the molecular ions are predicted to be (4)Sigma(-) and (2)Delta for MoC(-) and MoC(+), respectively.     

Accurate potential energy curve for B2. Ab initio elucidation of the experimentally elusive ground state rotation-vibration spectrum

The electron-deficient diatomic boron molecule has long puzzled scientists. As yet, the complete set of bound vibrational energy levels is far from being known, experimentally as well as theoretically. In the present ab initio study, all rotational-vibrational levels of the X (3)Σ(g)(-) ground state are determined up to the dissociation limit with near-spectroscopic accuracy (<10 cm(-1)). Two complete sets of bound vibrational levels for the (11)B(2) and (11)B-(10)B isotopomers, containing 38 and 37 levels, respectively, are reported. The results are based on a highly accurate potential energy curve, which also includes relativistic effects. The calculated set of all vibrational levels of the (11)B(2) isotopomer is compared with the few results derived from experiment [Bredohl, H.; Dubois, I.; and Nzohabonayo, P. J. Mol. Spectrosc. 1982, 93, 281; Bredohl, H.; Dubois, I.; and Melen, F. J. Mol. Spectrosc. 1987, 121, 128]. Theory agrees with experiment within 4.5 cm(-1) on average for the four vibrational level spacings that are so far known empirically. In addition, the present theoretical analysis suggests, however, that the transitions from higher electronic states to the ground state vibrational levels v = 12-15 deserve to be reanalyzed. Whereas previous experimental investigators considered them to originate from the v' = 0 vibrational level of the upper state (2)(3)Σ(u)(-), the present results make it likely that these transitions originate from a different upper state, namely the v' = 16 or the v' = 17 vibrational level of the (1)(3)Σ(u)(-) state. The ground state dissociation energy D(0) is predicted to be 23164 cm(-1).     

Excited states of nitro-polypyridine metal complexes and their ultrafast decay. Time-resolved IR Absorption, spectroelectrochemistry, and TD-DFT calculations of fac-[Re(Cl)(CO)3(5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline)

The lowest absorption band of fac-[Re(Cl)(CO)3(5-NO2-phen)] encompasses two close-lying MLCT transitions. The lower one is directed to LUMO, which is heavily localized on the NO2 group. The UV-vis absorption spectrum is well accounted for by TD-DFT (G03/PBEPBE1/CPCM), provided that the solvent, MeCN, is included in the calculations. Near-UV excitation of fac-[Re(Cl)(CO)3(5-NO2-phen)] populates a triplet metal to ligand charge-transfer excited state, 3MLCT, that was characterized by picosecond time-resolved IR spectroscopy. Large positive shifts of the nu(CO) bands upon excitation (+70 cm(-1) for the A'1 band) signify a very large charge separation between the Re(Cl)(CO)3 unit and the 5-NO2-phen ligand. Details of the excited-state character are revealed by TD-DFT calculated changes of electron density distribution. Experimental excited-state nu(CO) wavenumbers agree well with those calculated by DFT. The 3MLCT state decays with a ca. 10 ps lifetime (in MeCN) into another transient species, that was identified by TRIR and TD-DFT calculations as an intraligand 3npi excited state, whereby the electron density is excited from the NO2 oxygen lone pairs to the pi system of 5-NO2-phen. This state is short-lived, decaying to the ground state with a approximately 30 ps lifetime. The presence of an npi state seems to be the main factor responsible for the lack of emission and the very short lifetimes of 3MLCT states seen in all d6-metal complexes of nitro-polypyridyl ligands. Localization of the excited electron density in the lowest 3MLCT states parallels localization of the extra electron in the reduced state that is characterized by a very small negative shift of the nu(CO) IR bands (-6 cm(-1) for A'1) but a large downward shift of the nu(s)(NO2) IR band. The Re-Cl bond is unusually stable toward reduction, whereas the Cl ligand is readily substituted upon oxidation.     

Ab initio configuration-interaction study of the ground and low-lying electronic states of NiI

For the first time, we have studied the potential-energy curves, spectroscopic terms, vibrational levels, and the spectroscopic constants of the ground and low-lying excited states of NiI by employing the complete active space self-consistent-field method with relativistic effective core potentials followed by multireference configuration-interaction calculations. We have identified six low-lying electronic states of NiI with doublet spin multiplicities, including three states of Delta symmetry and three states of Pi symmetry of the molecule within 15 000 cm(-1). The lowest (2)Delta state is identified as the ground state of NiI, and the lowest (2)Pi state is found at 2174.56 cm(-1) above it. These results fully support the previous conclusion of the observed spectra although our computational energy separation of the two states is obviously larger than that of the experimental values. The present calculations show that the low-lying excited states [13.9] (2)Pi and [14.6] (2)Delta are 3 (2)Pi and 3 (2)Delta electronic states of NiI, respectively. Our computed spectroscopic terms, vibrational levels, and spectroscopic constants for them are in good agreement with the experimental data available at present. In the present work we have not only suggested assignments for the observed states but also computed more electronic states that are yet to be observed experimentally.     

New study of the stability and of the spectroscopy of the molecular anions NCO- and CNO-

Using highly correlated wave functions, the ground and the low lying excited states of the molecular NCO(-) and CNO(-) anions have been reinvestigated. The stability of the electronic ground state of the two isomers with respect to dissociation and to electron detachment has been checked along the isomerization pathway. The regions of stability of the excited electronic states have been analyzed and identified and it is shown that only the ground state is stable and the corresponding potential energy surface presents three equilibrium positions. The rovibronic spectroscopy of the X (1)Σ(+) state of both NCO(-) and CNO(-) isomers has been determined by a variational approach leading to remarkable agreement with experimental data.     

Effects of chain length and Au spin-orbit coupling on 3(pi pi*) emission from bridging Cn2- units: theoretical characterization of spin-forbidden radiative transitions in metal-capped one-dimensional carbon chains [H3PAu(C[triple bond]C)nAuPH3

Density functional theory and CASSCF calculations have been used to optimize the geometries of binuclear gold(I) complexes [H(3)PAu(C[triple bond]C)(n)AuPH(3)] (n=1-6) in their ground states and selected lowest energy (3)(pi pi*) excited states. Vertical excitation energies obtained by time-dependent density functional calculations for the spin-forbidden singlet-triplet transitions have exponential-decay size dependence. The predicted singlet-triplet splitting limit of [H(3)PAu(C[triple bond]C)(proportional/variant)AuPH(3)] is about 8317 cm(-1). Calculated singlet-triplet transition energies are in reasonable agreement with available experimental observations. The effect of the heavy atom Au spin-orbit coupling on the (3)(pi pi*) emission of these metal-capped one-dimensional carbon allotropes has been investigated by MRCI calculations. The contribution of the spin- and dipole-allowed singlet excited state to the spin-orbit-coupling wave function of the (3)(pi pi*) excited state makes the low-lying acetylenic triplet excited states become sufficiently allowed so as to appear in both electronic absorption and emission.     

Modeling structures and vibrational frequencies for dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) with density functional theory

The biochemical and physiological importance of nitric oxide (NO) in signaling and vasodilation has been studied for several decades. The discovery of both protein-bound and free low molecular weight dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) suggests that such compounds might play roles in biological NO storage and transport. These complexes have important distinguishing spectroscopic features, including EPR and M?ssbauer spectra, and NO vibrational frequencies (ν((NO))). The latter are particularly sensitive to modifications of the ligand environment and metal oxidation states. Examinations of functionals and basis sets delineate their effect on the NO vibrational frequencies and allow development of a methodology to calculate these frequencies in other DNICs. Three complexes of the form (L)(CO)Fe(NO)(2) (L = CO, N,N'-dimethyl-imidazol-2-ylidene (IMe) or 1-methylimidazole (MeImid)), where {Fe(NO)(2)}(10) is in its reduced form, have been used to calibrate the vibrational frequencies. The functional BP86 paired with a basis set of SDD/ECP on the metal and 6-311++G(d,p) on the ligand atoms exhibits the most accurate results, with deviations from experimental vibrational frequencies of no more than ±40 cm(-1). Subsequent investigations were performed on a series of diiron trinitrosyl complexes of the form {Fe(NO)}(7)-{Fe(NO)(2)}(9) bridged by sulfurs, namely, [(ON)Fe(μ-S,S-C(6)H(4))(2)Fe(NO)(2)](-), [Fe(NO)(2){Fe(NS(3))(NO)}-μ-S,S'], and [(ON)Fe(bme-dach)Fe(NO)(2)-μ-S,S'](+), with the ideal functional/basis set pair determined via the aforementioned test set. The ground state energetics (singlet/triplet/singlet, respectively), geometric parameters, and nitrosyl vibrational frequencies were calculated. The results for the former two complexes correlated well with the experimental work, and in contrast with what was reported in an earlier computational study, a stable triplet ground state structure was optimized for [Fe(NO)(2){Fe(NS(3))(NO)}-μ-S,S']. For [(ON)Fe(bme-dach)Fe(NO)(2)-μ-S,S'](+), whose synthesis and structure were recently reported, the geometric parameters, vibrational frequencies, and total energies compare well to experimental ones and favor a singlet ground state.     

Theoretical characterization of the low-lying electronic states of NbC

We have studied the potential-energy curves and the spectroscopic constants of the ground and low-lying excited states of NbC by employing the complete active space self-consistent field method with relativistic effective core potentials followed by multireference configuration-interaction calculations. We have identified 23 low-lying electronic states of NbC with different spin multiplicities and spatial symmetries within 40,000 cm(-1). At the multireference single and double configuration interaction level of theory the 2sigma+ and 2delta states are nearly degenerated, with the 2delta state located 187 cm(-1) lower than the 2sigma+ state. The estimated spin-orbit splitting for the 2delta state results in a 2delta(3/2) ground state and A 2sigma+ which is placed 650 cm(-1) above the ground state, in reasonable agreement with the experimental result, 831 cm(-1). Our computed spectroscopic constants are in good agreement with experimental values although our results differ from those of a previous density-functional investigation of the excited states of NbC, mainly due to the strong multiconfigurational character of NbC. In the present work we have not only suggested assignments for the observed states but also computed more electronic states that are yet to be observed experimentally.