Hydrogen bond dynamics in the excited states: photodissociation of phenol in clusters

We have investigated the photodynamics of phenol molecules in clusters. Possible reaction pathways following the photoexcitation of hydrogen-bonded phenol clusters have been identified theoretically using ab initio calculations. Experimentally we have studied the phenol molecules and clusters of various size distributions in a molecular beam apparatus. In particular, we have measured the H-fragment kinetic energy distributions after the excitation with 243 nm and 193 nm laser radiation. At 243 nm the KED spectra did not show any significant difference between the photodissociation of isolated molecules and phenol in larger clusters, while at 193 nm the contribution of the fast H-fragments is significantly suppressed in clusters with respect to the bare phenol molecule. We have interpreted the experimental results within the framework of the suggested reaction pathways.     

Ab initio calculation of the two lowest excited states of H2S relevant for the photodissociation in the first continuum

We present extensive MRD CI ab initio calculations for the first two excited states of ¹A″ symmetry (¹B₁ and ¹A₂ in the C_2v point group). Full three-dimensional potential energy surfaces are constructed by varying both H---S-bond lengths as well as the HSH bending angle. The lower adiabatic potential is dissociative whereas the upper one is binding. These surfaces, together with the transition dipole moments with the ground electronic state, form the basis for future investigations of the photodissociation of hydrogen sulfide.     

Lyman-α excitation spectra in the photodissociation of the doubly excited states of H2

A Lyman-α excitation spectrum has been observed using synchrotron radiation in the energy region corresponding to the double electron excitation of H₂. There exist in the spectrum three thresholds at 26.6±0.5 eV, 29.2±0.7 eV and 30.9±0.6 eV, and a dip at 34.1±0.5 eV. A Lyman-α excitation spectrum in the energy region corresponding to the single electron excitation has been also observed using a detection system which works as a band pass filter for detecting of Lyman-α fluorescence. The cross section of Lyman-α fluorescence in the photodissociation of the doubly excited states is very small, e.g., in the order of 10^?20 cm² at 30 eV, in comparison with that from the single electron excitation.     

Mechanistic photodissociation of CO-ligated neuroglobin and subsequent rebinding processes: a theoretical study

In the present work, density functional theory (QM) and molecular mechanics (MM) method were used to study mechanistic photodissociation of CO-ligated neuroglobin (Ngb-CO). It was found that all the electronic states investigated here are bound with respect to the Fe-CO separation, except for a couple of near-degenerate states (1E) that are repulsive. Irradiation of Ngb-CO at 533 nm leads to the system in the lowest two excited singlet states (1Q), where non-adiabatic CO dissociation proceeds with high efficiency through the intersection between 1Q and 1E. Soret band (1B) is the strongest in the absorption spectra of Ngb-CO with the peak at 415 nm. The systems in the 1B states decay to the 1E states via fast internal conversion, which is followed by the CO dissociation. The CO dissociation induces a considerable change in the structure of the Ngb protein. The initial dissociation involves a rotation of CO, which is accompanied with movement of several residues. When the Fe-C distance is larger than a critical value of 3.0 A, the CO molecules transfer more freely into the cavity of the protein. The pentacoordinated heme was found to be a transient intermediate after CO dissociation.     

Singlet excited states of silicon-containing anions relevant to interstellar chemistry

As the number of anions detected in the interstellar medium (ISM) increases, knowledge of their chemical properties is crucial in expanding our understanding of the chemistry of space. In this work we build on a previous study done in our group to examine the excited-state properties of five anions likely to exist in the ISM: SiCCN(-), CSiCN(-), CCSiN(-), SiCN(-), and SiNC(-). Our coupled cluster results indicate that SiCCN(-) and SiNC(-) possess dipole-bound singlet excited states while SiCCN(-) also has one valence state and CCSiN(-) potentially has two. Nearly all of the associated transition energies fall within the visible to near-IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum, making them applicable to the study of phenomena such as the diffuse interstellar bands.     

Characterization of the excited states of ethylene by MRCI

The excited states of ethylene are systematically analyzed and characterized according to the natural orbitals (NOs) resulting from multireference configuration interaction singles and doubles (MRCISD) calculations. By comparing the shapes and nodal structures of the NOs with those of hydrogen atomic orbitals, the Rydberg series can be classified. Two or three different types of Rydberg series appear within five excited states for each symmetry of D_2h. For example, in the ¹A_g symmetry there are three series having np and two nf hydrogen‐like atomic orbitals. Electronic correlation effects for the (π→π*) V state are also discussed on the basis of a complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) calculation, showing that electron correlation effects merely within the valence space cannot explain contraction of the V state. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Characterization of electronically excited states in anionic acetonitrile clusters

We have identified and examined the excited state of the cluster-solvated, valence-bound acetonitrile anion dimer, consistent with recent experimental findings, determining that the cluster excited state is of predominantly single-excitation character. Potential energy surface scans in coordinates specific to a "dissociative" normal mode common between the excited and ground states of the valence anion as well as the ground-state neutral dimer species shed light on the proposed vibrational autodetachment mechanism, with calculated excited-state lifetime consistent with experiment.     

Two-photon dissociation of the NO dimer in the region 7.1-8.2 eV: excited states and photodissociation pathways

A study of excited states of the NO dimer is carried out at 7.1-8.2 eV excitation energies. Photoexcitation is achieved by two-photon absorption at 300-345 nm followed by (NO)(2) dissociation and detection of electronically excited products, mostly in n=3 Rydberg states of NO. Photoelectron imaging is used as a tool to identify product electronic states by using non-state-selective ionization. Photofragment ion imaging is used to characterize product translational energy and angular distributions. Evidence for production of NO(A (2)Sigma(+)), NO(C (2)Pi), and NO(D (2)Sigma(+)) Rydberg states of NO, as well as the valence NO(B (2)Pi) state, is obtained. On the basis of product translational energy and angular distributions, it is possible to characterize the excited state(s) accessed in this region, which must possess a significant Rydberg character.     

Characterization of the low-energy electronic excited states of benzoyl-substituted ruthenocenes

Electronic absorption and resonance Raman spectral studies of benzoylruthenocene (BRc) and 1,1'-dibenzoylruthenocene (DRc) indicate that the low-energy electronic excited states of these 4d(6) metallocenes possess metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) character. While this MLCT contribution should weaken the metal-ring bonding in the excited state, neither compound is photosensitive in nonhalogenated solvents such as methanol, acetonitrile, and cyclohexane. In contrast, irradiating BRc and DRc in the good electron-accepting solvent, carbon tetrachloride, results in ring loss via a pathway that appears to originate from a charge-transfer-to-solvent excited state. Both metallocenes function as photoinitiators for the anionic polymerization of ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate, and the kinetics and mechanism of this process have been investigated. Comparing the present results on BRc and DRc with those reported earlier for the corresponding benzoyl-substituted ferrocene compounds reveals some interesting commonalities and differences between the excited-state properties of these 3d and 4d metallocenes.     

Photolysis of methylcobalamin: identification of the relevant excited states involved in Co-C bond scission

The relevant excited states involved in the photolysis of methylcobalamin (MeCbl) have been examined by means of time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The low-lying singlet and triplet excited states have been calculated along the Co-C bond at the TD-DFT/BP86/6-31g(d) level of theory in order to investigate the dissociation process of MeCbl. These calculations have shown that the photodissociation is mediated by the repulsive 3(sigmaCo-C --> sigma*Co-C) triplet state. The key metastable photoproduct involved in Co-C bond photolysis was identified as an S1 state having predominantly dCo --> pi*corrin metal-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) character.     

Porphyrin dynamics in the heme-pockets of myoglobin and hemoglobin

Fluorescence polarization measurements of protoporphyrin embedded in the heme-pockets of myoglobin and hemoglobin reveal three different rotational regimes of the porphyrin which are temperature-dependent. At very low temperatures, porphyrin motions in the cavity depend upon the viscosity of the external solvent, at intermediate temperatures upon the oscillation dipolar environment, and above approximately 0°C, upon the microviscosity of the protein medium.     

Electronically excited products in the photodissociation of dianthracene and related compounds

The photodissociation of dianthracene and related compounds leads to appreciable fractions of excited state excimer or exciplex products, dependent on temperature and solvent viscosity. The experimental evidence strongly suggests the involvement of an intermediate with an electronic structure which correlates with that of the benzyl radical.     

Involvement of excited triplet state in the photodissociation of cyclobutane

The potential energy curves (PECs) of the ground state and the low‐lying excited states for the photodissociation of cyclobutane have been calculated at the multi‐reference configuration interaction with singlet and doublet excitation (MRCISD) and the multi‐reference second order perturbation theory (MRPT2). Firstly, the PECs are constructed following a reaction path determined by semiclassical dynamics simulation, which suggests that the lowest triplet state of tetramethylene is involved in the photodissociation of cyclobutane. Then, the adiabatic PECs are calculated for the breaking processes of C1? C3 and C2? C4 bond respectively. The singlet‐triplet PECs' intersections have been found in the two breaking C? C bond processes. During the breaking process of the second C2? C4 bond, a local minimum has been found on the PEC of the lowest triplet state, which gives us some insight to reinterpret the experimental observed diradical intermediate as being trapped in its triplet state. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Adiabatic photodissociation of acenaphthylene dimers in the excited singlet state

Fluorescence spectroscopic studies of acenaphthylene dimers in saturated hydrocarbon solution have revealed that the dimer (A₂) photodissociates to     

The photodissociation of vibrationally excited ozone in the upper atmosphere

The photodissociation of vibrationally excited O₃ in the sunlit mesosphere is investigated. Dissociation rate coefficients for specific vibrationally excited states of O₃ are calculated for the conditions of an overhead sun. Possible vibrational enhancements of the O(¹D) and O₂(a¹Δ_g) production rates are assessed. It is shown that such enhancements should make only minor contributions to the daytime production of these species in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere.     

Characterization of the singlet and triplet excited states of 3-chloro-4-methylumbelliferone

An extensive photophysical characterization of 3-chloro-4-methylumbelliferone (3Cl4MU) in the ground-state, S(0), first excited singlet state, S(1), and lowest triplet state, T(1), was undertaken in water, neutral ethanol, acidified ethanol, and basified ethanol. Quantitative measurements of quantum yields (fluorescence, phosphorescence, intersystem crossing, internal conversion, and singlet oxygen formation) together with lifetimes were obtained at room and low temperature in water, dioxane/water mixtures, and alcohols. The different transient species were assigned and a general kinetic scheme is presented, summarizing the excited-state multiequilibria of 3Cl4MU. In water, the equilibrium is restricted to neutral (N*) and anionic (A*) species, both in the ground (pK(a) = 7.2) and first excited singlet states (pK(a)* = 0.5). In dioxane/water mixtures (pH ca. 6), substantial changes of the kinetics of the S(1) state were observed with the appearance of an additional tautomeric T* species. In low water content mixtures (mixture 9:1 v:v), only the neutral (N*) and tautomeric (T*) forms of 3Cl4MU are observed, whereas at higher water content mixtures (water mole fraction superior to 0.45), all three species N*, T*, and A* coexist in the excited state. In the triplet state, in the nonprotic and nonpolar solvent dioxane, the observed transient signals were assigned as the triplet-triplet transition of the neutral form, N*(T(1)) → N*(T(n)). In water, two transient species were observed and are assigned as the triplets of the neutral N*(T(1)) and the anionic form, A*(T(1)) (also obtained in basified ethanol). The phosphorescence spectra and decays of 3Cl4MU, in neutral, acidified, and basified solutions, demonstrate that only these two species N*(T(1)) and A*(T(1)) exist in the lowest lying triplet state, T(1). The radiative channel was found dominant for the deactivation of the anionic species, whereas with the neutral the S(1) ? S(0) internal conversion competes with fluorescence. For both N* and A* the intersystem crossing yield represents a minor deactivation channel for S(1).     

Excited states and photodissociation of hydroxymethyl hydroperoxide

The structure of hydroxymethyl hydroperoxide (HOCH(2)OOH) (HMHP) has been examined using coupled cluster and multireference configuration interaction methods to study the excited states and probable photodissociation products. The results are compared to experiments. The vertical excitation energies for several excited states of HOCH(2)OOH are presented as well as the excited state energies along the O-O, O-H, C-O, and C-H dissociation pathways. The results help in the interpretation of experimental UV absorption spectra and elucidate the photodissociation mechanism of HMHP under tropospheric conditions.     

Communication: mode-specific photodissociation of vibrationally excited pyrrole

Laser-based spectroscopies coupled with molecular beam techniques facilitated the monitoring of H fragments released in ultraviolet photodissociation of pre-excited isoenergetic vibrational levels of pyrrole. Most noticeably, there was an order of magnitude larger reactivity for an eigenstate primarily consisting of two quanta of ring deformation than for another with one quantum of symmetric C-H stretch. The dynamics, the intramolecular interactions controlling the energy flow, and the mode-selectivity within a medium-sized, ten atom molecule, is discussed.     

Characterization of singlet ground and low-lying electronic excited states of phosphaethyne and isophosphaethyne

The singlet ground ((approximate)X(1)Sigma1+) and excited (1Sigma-,1Delta) states of HCP and HPC have been systematically investigated using ab initio molecular electronic structure theory. For the ground state, geometries of the two linear stationary points have been optimized and physical properties have been predicted utilizing restricted self-consistent field theory, coupled cluster theory with single and double excitations (CCSD), CCSD with perturbative triple corrections [CCSD(T)], and CCSD with partial iterative triple excitations (CCSDT-3 and CC3). Physical properties computed for the global minimum ((approximate)X(1)Sigma+HCP) include harmonic vibrational frequencies with the cc-pV5Z CCSD(T) method of omega1=3344 cm(-1), omega2=689 cm(-1), and omega3=1298 cm(-1). Linear HPC, a stationary point of Hessian index 2, is predicted to lie 75.2 kcal mol(-1) above the global minimum HCP. The dissociation energy D0[HCP((approximate)X(1)Sigma+)-->H(2S)+CP(X2Sigma+)] of HCP is predicted to be 119.0 kcal mol(-1), which is very close to the experimental lower limit of 119.1 kcal mol(-1). Eight singlet excited states were examined and their physical properties were determined employing three equation-of-motion coupled cluster methods (EOM-CCSD, EOM-CCSDT-3, and EOM-CC3). Four stationary points were located on the lowest-lying excited state potential energy surface, 1Sigma- -->1A", with excitation energies Te of 101.4 kcal mol(-1) (1A"HCP), 104.6 kcal mol(-1)(1Sigma-HCP), 122.3 kcal mol(-1)(1A" HPC), and 171.6 kcal mol(-1)(1Sigma-HPC) at the cc-pVQZ EOM-CCSDT-3 level of theory. The physical properties of the 1A" state with a predicted bond angle of 129.5 degrees compare well with the experimentally reported first singlet state ((approximate)A1A"). The excitation energy predicted for this excitation is T0=99.4 kcal mol(-1) (34 800 cm(-1),4.31 eV), in essentially perfect agreement with the experimental value of T0=99.3 kcal mol(-1)(34 746 cm(-1),4.308 eV). For the second lowest-lying excited singlet surface, 1Delta-->1A', four stationary points were found with Te values of 111.2 kcal mol(-1) (2(1)A' HCP), 112.4 kcal mol(-1) (1Delta HPC), 125.6 kcal mol(-1)(2(1)A' HCP), and 177.8 kcal mol(-1)(1Delta HPC). The predicted CP bond length and frequencies of the 2(1)A' state with a bond angle of 89.8 degrees (1.707 A, 666 and 979 cm(-1)) compare reasonably well with those for the experimentally reported (approximate)C(1)A' state (1.69 A, 615 and 969 cm(-1)). However, the excitation energy and bond angle do not agree well: theoretical values of 108.7 kcal mol(-1) and 89.8 degrees versus experimental values of 115.1 kcal mol(-1) and 113 degrees. of 115.1 kcal mol(-1) and 113 degrees.