Investigation of UV spectra of isomeric nitropyrazoles by the semiempirical AM1 (CI) method

The absorption bands in the UV spectra of isomeric nitropyrazoles were assigned by the calculations in the semiempirical AMI (CI) approximation. The long-wave absorption of nitropyrazoles is caused by π→π* and η₀→π* transitions. The charge-transfer band is the most intense. The π→π* transitions undergo a considerable bathochromic shift in the deprotonation. The first ionization potential (PI) of the 4-nitropyrazole anion was estimated from the empirical dependence of the energy of the excited π-state on PI of alkyl-substituted 4-nitropyrazoles. The PI of the 4-nitropyrazole anion is 3 eV lower than that of a neutral molecule. This is evidence for a substantial destabilization of the boundary β-orbital in the heterolytic cleavage of the N−H bond. The analysis of the UV and NMR spectra of 3(5)-nitropyrazole confirms the viewpoint that the 3-nitro tautomer predominates in solution. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya. No. 2, pp. 310–314, February, 1997.     

Spiro[4.4]nonatetraene and its Positive and Negative Radical Ions: Molectronic Structure Investigations

The electronic structure of spiro[4.4]nonatetraene 1 as well as that of its radical anion and cation were studied by different spectroscopies. The electron‐energy‐loss spectrum in the gas phase revealed the lowest triplet state at 2.98 eV and a group of three overlapping triplet states in the 4.5 – 5.0 eV range, as well as a number of valence and Rydberg singlet excited states. Electron‐impact excitation functions of pure vibrational and triplet states identified various states of the negative ion, in particular the ground state with an attachment energy of 0.8 eV, an excited state corresponding to a temporary electron attachment to the 2b₁ MO at an attachment energy of 2.7 eV, and a core excited state at 4.0 eV. Electronic‐absorption spectroscopy in cryogenic matrices revealed several states of the positive ion, in particular a richly structured first band at 1.27 eV, and the first electronic transition of the radical anion. Vibrations of the ground state of the cation were probed by IR spectroscopy in a cryogenic matrix. The results are discussed on the basis of density‐functional and CASSCF/CASPT2 quantum‐chemical calculations. In their various forms, the calculations successfully rationalized the triplet and the singlet (valence and Rydberg) excitation energies of the neutral molecule, the excitation energies of the radical cation, its IR spectrum, the vibrations excited in the first electronic absorption band, and the energies of the ground and the first excited states of the anion. The difference of the anion excitation energies in the gas and condensed phases was rationalized by a calculation of the Jahn‐Teller distortion of the anion ground state. Contrary to expectations based on a single‐configuration model for the electronic states of 1 , it is found that the gap between the first two excited states is different in the singlet and the triplet manifold. This finding can be traced to the different importance of configuration interaction in the two multiplicity manifolds.     

Stimulated Raman laser excitation of spontaneous resonance Raman scattering

The efficient conversion of the second and third harmonics of a Nd YAG laser to near UV radiation in the 395–500 nm range by stimulated Stokes (and anti-Stokes) Raman scattering (SRS) in a 1 m Raman oscillator containing compressed H₂ or D₂ is used as an excitation source for spontaneous resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS). SRS excited RR spectra are shown for the anion radical of tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ).     

Laser photolysis of ozone in the presence of ammonia. Formation and decay of vibrationally excited NH2 radicals

NH₂ radicals were generated by laser pulsed photolysis of O₃ in the presence of NH₃ and their subsequent kinetics were monitored by LIF. The room-temperature rate constant for O(¹D)+NH₃ was measured to be (3.3±0.1)×10^−1u cm⁻³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ by studying NH₂ accumulation profiles. The nascent energy distribution over NH₂ vibrational levels was studied and the fraction of NH₂ radicals generated in the ground vibrational state was found to be 0.42±0.08. Acceleration of the reaction NH₂+O₃ caused by vibrational excitation of NH₂ radicals was observed - the rate constants were (1.5±0.4)×10⁻¹² and (1.5±0.3)×10⁻¹³ cm⁻³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, for vibrationally excited and non-excited NH₂, respectively. The reactive channel for removal of vibrationally excited NH₂ by ozone appears to be dominant.     

Beyond vinyl: electronic structure of unsaturated propen-1-yl, propen-2-yl, 1-buten-2-yl, and trans-2-buten-2-yl hydrocarbon radicals

Vertical excitation energies and oscillator strengths for several valence and Rydberg electronic states of vinyl, propen-1-yl, propen-2-yl, 1-buten-2-yl, and trans-2-buten-2-yl radicals are calculated using the equation-of-motion coupled cluster methods with single and double substitutions (EOM-CCSD). The ground and the lowest excited state (n <-- pi) equilibrium geometries are calculated using the CCSD(T) and EOM-SF-CCSD methods, respectively, and adiabatic excitation energies for the n <-- pi state are reported. Systematic changes in the geometries, excitation energies, and Rydberg state quantum defects within this group of radicals are discussed.     

A multi-configuration LCAO–MO study for complex unsaturated molecules. II. Application to the benzene cation

The method of the MC –LCAO –MO approach, described in the preceding paper, is further applied to the benzene cation. Through the iteration process the π-electron energies and the molecular shapes are computed for the ground and two lowest excited states of the cation in both D_6h and D_2h geometries. A remarkable fact obtained is that a comparatively small variation of the geometrical structure (c. 0.010 – 0.013 Å bond length difference) brings about a considerable change of the energy value (c. 0.85 – 1.25 eV). The π-electronic excitation energies obtained from the iteration process are compared with the transition energies calculated from the usual method in which the structures of the excited states are assumed to be the same as the corresponding ground state structures. The difference in the excitation energy between the cation and the anion, and the CI effect on the excited states, are discussed. It is found that the doubly excited configurations play an important role in CI , which is somewhat different from that of the singly excited configurations. The stabilization energy due to the Jahn–Teller distortion is estimated for the ground state of the cation.     

Molecular orbital theory of the hydrogen bond. 25. Water–uracil complexes in excited n → π states

Hydrogen bonding of uracil with water in excited n → π* states has been investigated by means of ab initio SCF -CI calculations on uracil and water–uracil complexes. Two low-energy excited states arise from n → π* transitions in uracil. The first is due to excitation of the C₄? O group, while the second is associated with excitation of the C₂? O group. In the first n → π* state, hydrogen bonds at O₄ are broken, so that the open water–uracil dimer at O₄ dissociates. The “wobble” dimer, in which a water molecule is essentially free to move between its position in an open structure at N₃? H and a cyclic structure at N₃? H and O₄ in the ground state, collapses to a different “wobble” dimer at N₃? H and O₂ in the excited state. The third dimer, a “wobble” dimer at N₁? H and O₂, remains intact, but is destabilized relative to the ground state. Although hydrogen bonds at O₂ are broken in the second n → π* state, the three water–uracil dimers remain bound. The “wobble” dimer at N₁? H and O₂ changes to an excited open dimer at N₁? H. The “wobble” dimer at N₃? H and O₄ remains intact, and the open dimer at O₄ is further stabilized upon excitation. Dimer blue shifts of n → π* bands are nearly additive in 2:1 and 3:1 water:uracil structures. The fates of the three 2:1 water:uracil trimers and the 3:1 water:uracil tetramer in the first and second n → π* states are determined by the fates of the corresponding excited dimers in these states.     

4pnp J=0e-2e autoionizing series of calcium: experimental and theoretical analysis

The even parity 4pnp J=0, 1, 2 doubly excited autoionizing states of neutral calcium in an atomic beam are investigated by a two-step isolated core excitation (ICE) method using two different combinations of polarization of the laser beams. The different excited energy levels are assigned to nine autoionizing Rydberg series 4p_{1/2, 3/2}np J=0, 1, 2 for ≤ n ≤ 22. The theoretical interpretation is achieved by a combination of the eigenchannel R-matrix theory and the multichannel quantum defect (MQDT) method. Two, five and six closed interacting channels are introduced for the J=0, J=1 and J=2 series respectively. Theoretical energy level positions, autoionization widths and excitation profiles are compared with the experimental data, confirming the identification of the observed structures and providing evidence of extended mixing between the 4p_1/2np and 4p_3/2np series.     

Theoretical study of the excited singlet and triplet states of alloxan

The possibility of excited‐state protomeric shifts in the biologically important molecule, alloxan, is investigated. We have focused on the S₁ and T₁ excited states of alloxan and its hydroxy tautomers. Modifications brought in by excitation on the relative stabilities, activation barriers, and optimized geometries, computed at the MNDO, AM1, and PM3 levels of approximation, have been discussed for both excited electronic states. The absorption and fluorescence spectra for the three tautomers are also discussed. Results show significant changes in the geometries on excitation, although the changes are similar for the singlet and triplet excited states. Though the relative stability orders do not change, the 2‐hydroxy tautomer is stabilized, while the 4‐hydroxy tautomer gets destabilized on excitation. The excited states are (n,π*) states, involving the promotion of a nonbonding oxygen lone pair from the CO? CO? CO moiety, which explains why the oxygens of this group become less basic and the 4‐hydroxy tautomer gets destabilized on excitation. However, the activation barriers do not reduce significantly on excitation, and this precludes the possibility of ground‐ or excited‐state proton transfer in the gas phase. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001     

Vibronic structure in C2H and C2D from anion slow electron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy

The C2H and C2D radicals are investigated by slow electron velocity-map imaging (SEVI) of the corresponding anions. This technique offers considerably higher resolution (<0.5 meV) than photoelectron spectroscopy. As a result, SEVI spectra of the two isotopomers yield improved electron affinities and reveal many new structures that are particularly sensitive to vibronic coupling between the ground 2Sigma+ and low-lying excited 2Pi states. These structures, which encompass more than 5000 cm(-1) of internal excitation, are assigned with the aid of previous experimental and theoretical work. We also show that SEVI can be applied to photodetachment transitions resulting in ejection of an electron with orbital angular momentum l=1, a p wave, in contrast to anion zero-electron kinetic energy spectroscopy which is restricted to s-wave detachment.     

Unimolecular neutral and ion kinetics by variable-time neutralization—reionization mass spectrometry

A new method is described for the determination of rate parameters of unimolecular dissociations of neutral intermediates and ions produced by collisional neutralization and reionization at kiloelectronvolt kinetic energies. The method utilizes variable time-scales for neutral and ion dissociations to obtain time-dependent survivor and product ion yields. Kinetic analysis then provides phenomenological rate constants for both neutral and ion dissociations. Neutralization with CH₃I, NO, (C₂H₅)₂O, C₆H₆ and Xe of methyl iodide cation radicals is shown to produce the intermediate neutral molecules with different internal energies, resulting in different rates of neutral and ion dissociations. Vibrational excitation in neutralized CH₃I results in neutral dissociations with rate parameters in the (1–3) × 10⁵ s^–1 range. The origin of neutral excitation by fast collision is explained by the intermediate formation of highly excited Rydberg states that decay by photon emission to the vibrationally excited ground state of the molecule.     

Photodissociation of Hydrated Hydrogen Iodide Clusters

Using high‐level ab initio calculations and excited state ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we show that hydrated iodic acids release hydrogen radicals and/or hydrogen molecules as well as iodine radicals upon excitation. Its photoreaction process involving charge transfer to the solvent takes place in four steps: 1) hydration of the acid, 2) charge transfer to water upon excitation of hydrated acid, 3) detachment of the neutral iodine atom, and 4) detachment of the hydrogen radical. The iodine detachment process from excited hydrated hydro–iodic acids is exothermic and the detachment of hydrogen radicals from hydrated hydronium radicals is spontaneous if the initial kinetic energy of the cluster is high enough to get over the activation barrier of the detachment. The complete release of the radicals can be understood in terms of kinetics. This study shows how the hydrogen and halogen radicals are dissociated and released from their hydrated acids. Simple experiments corroborate our predicted mechanism for the release of hydrogen molecules from iodic acid in water by ultraviolet light.     

Enzymatic oxidation of lignin and compounds modeling it. III. Formation of singlet oxygen in the peroxidase oxidation of lignin

The main emitters of radiation in the aerobic oxidation of lignin are the carbonyl groups in an excited state and singlet oxygen. It has been shown that the main source of O₂(¹Δ) may be the radical anion O^?·₂. Singlet oxygen and the radical anion are by-products of the radical oxidation of lignin.     

C-O bond cleavage of benzophenone substituted by 4-CH2OR (R = C6H5 and CH3) with stepwise two-photon excitation

The C-O bond cleavage from benzophenone substituted with 4-CH2OR (p-BPCH2OR, 1-3), such as p-phenoxymethylbenzophenone (1, R= C6H5) and p-methoxymethylbenzophenone (2, R= CH3), occurred by a stepwise two-photon excitation during two-color, two-laser flash photolysis. On the other hand, no C-O bond cleavage occurred from p-hydroxymethylbenzophenone (3, R = H). The first 355-nm laser excitation of 1-3 generates p-BPCH2OR in the lowest triplet excited state (T1) which has an absorption at 532 nm. When p-BPCH2OR(T1) is excited with the second 532-nm laser to p-BPCH2OR in the higher triplet excited state (T(n)), the C-O bond cleavage occurred within the laser flash duration of 5 ns. The quantum yields of the C-O bond cleavage during the second 532-nm laser irradiation were found to be 0.015 +/- 0.007 and 0.007 +/- 0.003 for 1 and 2, respectively. Although these values are low, the diminishing 1(T1) or 2(T1) was found to convert, in almost 100% yield, to phenoxyl (C6H5O*) and p-benzoylbenzyl (BPCH2*) radicals or methoxyl (CH3O*) and BPCH2* radicals, respectively. The T(n) excitation energy, the energy barrier along the potential surface between the T(n) states and product radicals, and delocalization of the T(n) state molecular orbital including BP and CH2OR (R = C6H5, CH3, H) moieties are important factors for the occurrence of the C-O bond cleavage. It is found that the C-O bond cleavage and production of free radicals, such as BPCH2*, C6H5O*, and CH3O*, can be performed by a stepwise two-photon excitation. The present study is an example in which the chemical reactions can be selectively initiated from the T(n) state but not from the S1 and T1 states.     

Second excited singlet state emission spectroscopy of thiocarbonyls. II. Thiocarbonyl chlorofluoride

Single vibronic level emission spectra have been measured for four excitation wavelengths pumping the second excited singlet state of CIFCS. Only resonance fluorescence is observed. Progressions involving Δv″₁ = 0, 1, 2, …, Δv″₆ = 0, 2, 4 … dominate. Analysis of the spectra indicates that neither intra- or intermolecular processes lead to odd Δv′₆ changes and that collisions in the pure gas lead to electronic quenching of molecules in the excited state.     

Production and decomposition of highly excited 2-butyl radicals by the addition of hot hydrogen atoms to but-2-ene. Cross section for the addition reaction

Highly excited 2-butyl radicals have been generated by addition of hot hydrogen atoms to but-2-ene. Atoms of initial energy 130 kJ mol^?1 and 161 kJ mol^?1 were produced by photolysis of H₂S. Rates of decomposition of the highly excited 2-butyl radicals were monitored by analysis of stabilization and decomposition products, and the extent of energy-loss of the hydrogen atoms in nonreactive collisions assessed by measuring the effect of added xenon on product yields. A model involving the cross-section for the addition reaction, energy transfer in nonreactive collisions between hydrogen atoms and but-2-ene, RRKM rate constants for decomposition of excited 2-butyl radicals, and collisional energy transfer from the radicals, has been used to calculate product yields for comparison with experimental values. It is concluded that the cross-section for addition of hydrogen atoms of energy about 130 kJ mol^?1 to but-2-ene is 0.055 ± 0.028 nm². This value is compatible with the A factor for the thermal addition reaction.     

Electronic determinants of photoacidity in cyanonaphthols

We present semiempirical AM1 calculations for the ground and excited state of 2-naphthol and some of its cyano derivatives in the gas phase. Following photoexcitation, the Mulliken electron density on the oxygen diminishes slightly for the acid and more conspicuously for the anionic conjugated base. This agrees with the measured solvatochromic parameters for 2-naphthol. In both electronic states, we find a nice correlation with the measured pK values in water. The electronic charge distribution on the distal ring of the anion agrees with the experimental acidity order in both S(0) and S(1). Upon excitation, it increases predominantly in positions 3, 5, and 8. The ring system of the anion assumes an alternate quinoidal structure in the ground state of the anion, which becomes more symmetric in the relaxed excited state. This suggests that the enhanced aromatic character of a 4n electron system in the excited state allows for better delocalization of the oxygen charge within the ring.     

The reaction of triplet flavin with indole. A study of the cascade of reactive intermediates using density functional theory and time resolved infrared spectroscopy

As a model for riboflavin, lumiflavin was investigated using density functional theory methods (B3LYP/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-31+G**) with regard to the proposed cascade of intermediates formed after excitation to the triplet state, followed by electron-transfer, proton-transfer, and radical[bond]radical coupling reactions. The excited triplet state of the flavin is predicted to be 42 kcal/mol higher in energy than the singlet ground state, and the pi radical anion lies 45.1 kcal/mol lower in energy than the ground-state flavin and a free electron in the gas phase. The former value compares to a solution-phase triplet energy of 49.8 kcal/mol of riboflavin. For the radical anion, the thermodynamically favored position to accept a proton on the flavin ring system is at N(5). A natural population analysis also provided spin density information for the radicals and insight into the origin of the relative stabilities of the six different calculated hydroflavin radicals. The resulting 5H-LF* radical can then undergo radical[bond]radical coupling reactions, with the most thermodynamically stable adduct being formed at C(4'). Vibrational spectra were also calculated for the transient species. Experimental time-resolved infrared spectroscopic data obtained using riboflavin tetraacetate are in excellent agreement with the calculated spectra for the triplet flavin, the radical anion, and the most stable hydroflavin radical.     

Computational insight into excited states of the ring-opening radicals from the pyrolysis of furan biofuels

The low-lying valence excited states and Rydberg states of the radical species from the ring-opening reactions in pyrolysis of furan biofuels have been determined by extensive density functional theory and sophisticated wave function theory calculations. The radicals 1-C₄H₅O-2, 2-furylCH₂, and 4-C₆H₇O with the delocalized π-type single electron are predicted to be most stable among the reactive species here for furan, 2-methyfuran, and 2,5-dimethylfuran, respectively. Predicted vertical transition energies by TD-CAM-B3LYP show good agreement with those by CASPT2. Some among the electronic excitations to low-lying states can take place in the visible light region, and they may be involved in the combustion process. Further surface hopping dynamics simulations on the excited states of the most stable ring-opening radical 1-C₄H₅O-2 of furan as an example reveal that 89.9% sampling trajectories at the initial excited state of 2²A”(π¹π*²) decay to the 1²A’(n¹π*²) state within an average of 384 fs, and then 81.2% trajectories at the 1²A’ state go to the ground state within an average of 114 fs. At the end of the simulation for 1000 fs, 18.8% trajectories still stay on the excited states of 2²A” and 1²A’, suggesting that the reactive radicals in the ground state are mainly responsible for the combustion chemistry of furan biofuels. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.