Gas phase A-band short time photodissociation dynamics of trans and gauche conformations of 1-iodopropane and comparison with the solution phase short time photodissociation dynamics

A-band resonance Raman spectra are reported for gas phase 1-iodopropane. The gas phase absorption spectrum and resonance Raman intensities were simulated using time-dependent wavepacket calculations and a simple model in order to extract the A-band short time photo-dissociation dynamics for the trans and gauche conformers of 1-iodopropane. The gas phase short time dynamics for trans and gauche are very similar to the results obtained from a reanalysis of corresponding solution phase spectra. This indicates that solvation has little effect on the A-band short time photodissociation dynamics. However, the electronic dephasing parameters for the gauche conformer increase significantly upon solvation while the trans conformer parameters are almost the same in the gas and solution phases. This suggests that the gauche conformer in the A-band excited electronic state undergoes stronger interaction with the solvent than the trans conformer to give rise to faster electronic dephasing upon solvation for the gauche conformer.     

Resonance Raman investigation of the short-time dynamics of the ultraviolet photodissociation of bromoform

We report ultraviolet resonance Raman spectra of bromoform (CHBr₃) in cyclohexane solution. The resonance Raman spectra show significant intensity in the overtones of the nominal Br-C-Br symmetric bend (v ₆), the nominal H-C-Br asymmetric bend (v3), the nominal Br-C-Br symmetric stretch (v ₂) and the nominal Br-C-Br asymmetric stretch (v ₅) vibrational modes suggesting that the short-time photodissociation dynamics have noticeable multidimensional character. The lack of strong combination bands between several of the Franck-Condon active modes suggests that more than one electronic transition contribute to the resonance Raman spectra. We briefly discuss the ultraviolet short-time photodissociation dynamics of bromoform and the potential implications for the secondary photodissociation reactions of the initially formed CHBr₂ radical.     

Resonance Raman spectroscopy and theoretical study on the photodissociation dynamics of formanilide in S3 state

Resonance Raman spectra were obtained for formanilide (FA) in acetonitrile solution with 239.5‐ and 245.9‐nm excitation wavelengths in resonance with the S₃ state, and density functional theory (DFT) was used to elucidate the electronic transitions and resonance Raman spectra of FA. The spectra indicate that, in the Franck–Condon region, photodissociation dynamics has a multidimensional character with the motions mainly along the CO stretching υ₈, the ring CC stretch υ₉, the NH wag and ring CCH in‐plane bend υ₁₁, the NH wag and ring CCH in‐plane bend υ₁₂, ring CC stretch and ring CCH in‐plane bend υ₁₆, the NH wag and ring CCH in‐plane bend υ₁₇, the ring CCH in‐plane bend υ₁₈, and the ring trigonal bend υ₂₄. The excited‐state dynamics of the S₃ state is discussed, and the results are compared with those previously reported for benzamide (BA) to examine the N‐ or C‐terminal‐substituted aromatic effect of the peptide bond. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Resonance Raman spectroscopy and theoretical study on the photodissociation dynamics of diuron in S2 state

Resonance Raman spectra (RRs) and quantum chemical calculations were used to investigate the photodissociation dynamics of diuron in S₂ state. The RRs indicate that the photorelaxation dynamics for the S₀ → S₂ excited state is predominantly along nine motions: the ring C = C stretch vibration ν₁₂ (1593 cm⁻¹), Ph–N–H wag ν₁₄ (1517 cm⁻¹), CO–N(CH₃)₂ stretch ν₂₃ (1365 cm⁻¹)_, CCH wag in plane/ring C = C stretch ν₂₄ (1297 cm⁻¹)_, ring CH rock in plane/ring deformation ν₂₇ (1233 cm⁻¹), CCH wag in plane ν₂₉ (1151 cm⁻¹), Ph–Cl (para) stretch ν₃₅ (1028 cm⁻¹), Ph–N–H wag ν₃₇ (913 cm⁻¹) and ring breath ν₄₄ (685 cm⁻¹). Dissociation by Ph–Cl (para) cleavage at S₂ state directly or relaxation to T₂ state by internal conversion (S₂ → S₁) and intersystem crossing (S₁/T₂) is expected by ~250 nm irradiation based on the RRS, complete active space self‐consistent field, configuration interaction singles and time‐dependent density functional theory calculations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural dynamics of 4‐pyrimidone in lower‐lying excited States

The structural dynamics of 4‐pyrimidone (4PMO) in the A‐ and B‐band absorptions was studied by using the resonance Raman spectroscopy combined with quantum chemical calculations to better understand whether the excited state intramolecular proton‐transfer (ESIPT) reaction occurs in Franck–Condon regions or not. The transition barrier for the ground state proton‐transfer tautomerization reaction between 3(H) (I) and hydroxy (II) was determined to be 165 kJ·mol⁻¹ in vacuum on the basis of the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,2p) level of theory calculations. Two ultraviolet absorption bands of 4PMO were, respectively, assigned as π_H→π*_L and π_H→π*_L+1 transitions. The vibrational assignments were done on the basis of the Fourier transform (FT)‐Raman and FT‐infrared (IR) measurements, the density‐functional theory computations and the normal mode analysis. The A‐ and B‐band resonance Raman spectra of 4PMO were measured in water, methanol and acetonitrile. The structural dynamics of 4PMO was obtained through the analysis of the resonance Raman intensity pattern. We discuss the similarities in the structural dynamics of 4PMO and 2‐thiopyrimidone (2TPM), and the results were used to correlate to the intramolecular hydrogen‐atom‐transfer process as observed by matrix‐isolation IR experiments for 4PMO. A variety of NH/CH bend modes + C = O stretch mode mark the hydrogen‐detachment‐attachment or ESIPT reaction initiated in Franck–Condon region for 4PMO and 2TPM. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photofragmentation mechanisms of nickel methyl xanthate—resonance Raman and density functional theory investigation

The C‐, D‐, and E‐band resonance Raman spectra were obtained for nickel methyl xanthate (NMX) in acetonitrile solution. Density functional calculations were carried out to help elucidate its ultraviolet electronic transitions and vibrational assignments of the resonance Raman spectra associated with the C‐, D‐, and E‐band absorptions. The Franck–Condon region photodissociation dynamics of NMX in C, D, and E‐band absorptions were revealed to have multidimensional characters and to be significantly different from one another in terms of the resonance Raman intensity patterns. The photofragmentation mechanism associated with C‐, D‐, and E‐band absorptions are briefly discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Resonance Raman spectra and excited state structural dynamics of ethylene trithiocarbonate in the A‐ and B‐band absorptions

A‐ and B‐band resonance Raman spectra were acquired for ethylene trithiocarbonate in cyclohexane solution. The results indicate that the S₃ state structural dynamics is mostly along vibrational motions of the CS stretch υ₁₁, while the S₄ state one has motions mainly via the S C S symmetric stretch υ₁₈, CS stretch υ₁₁, and the H C H rock + S C S antisymmetric stretch υ14 reaction coordinates. The very different excited state structural dynamics were briefly discussed in terms of vibronic couplings using local symmetry point group. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hyperfine interaction investigations of the internal dynamics of biomolecules

Three different types of low frequency internal motions in biomolecules are illustrated by representative modern applications of hyperfine spectroscopic techniques: (1) the rotation of aromatic amino acid residues is studied by¹H nuclear magnetic resonance via chemical shift averaging; (2) confined diffusion is studied by⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer-spectroscopy via the variation of the recoilfree fraction and via the appearance of very broad resonance absorption lines; (3) large-scale intramolecular reorientational motion is studied by perturbed angular correlation of γ-rays emitted from radioactive 199mHg labels via the loss of anisotropy.     

Femtosecond dynamics of geminate recombination of radicals upon photodissociation of aromatic disulfides

The dynamics of the geminate recombination of thiyl radicals formed upon photodissociation of aromatic disulfides and the effect of the intramolecular relaxation on this recombination are studied using pico-and femtosecond kinetic spectroscopy. It is shown that, in terms of a phenomenological model, the geminate recombination of phenylthiyl radicals in neutral solvents can be satisfactorily described by a biexponential dependence. The model suggests the occurrence of primary geminate recombination in a solvent cage formed around an original molecule and secondary recombination controlled by the diffusional motion of the radicals of a pair. The primary geminate recombination, whose characteristic time (9 ps) is close to the characteristic times of intermolecular vibrational relaxation of complex molecules in solvents at room temperatures, masks the manifestation of thermalization processes in the time kinetics. The direct geminate recombination of aminophenylthiyl radicals with the formation of original molecules virtually does not occur because of the intramolecular charge transfer. In connection with this, the intermolecular vibrational relaxation manifests itself in the kinetics of the induced optical density in the region of the absorption band maximum of radicals as a growing component with a characteristic time of 6 ps.     

Structural and spectroscopic study of adsorption of anthracene on silver

Adsorption of anthracene on silver is investigated based on the density functional theory and the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Variations in bond and dihedral angles of the optimised geometry of anthracene indicate distortions in the hexagonal structure of the ring nearer to the silver cluster and deviations in the co-planarity of carbon atoms. Natural bond orbital analysis confirms intramolecular charge transfers from π(C–C) to π*(C–C) and π(C–C) to σ*(Ag–Ag) orbitals. Higher polarisation resulting from charge transfers on adsorption accounts for Raman enhancements of selective vibrational modes and band shifts. Surface plasmon resonance peak of silver nanoparticles after the adsorption of anthracene observed around 399 nm compares well with the theoretically simulated UV–vis spectrum derived using the time-dependent density functional theory. Theoretical and experimental SERS correlate well, confirming the process of adsorption, the tilted orientation of anthracene on the silver surface and the adsorption mechanism reported. Localisation of the electron density together with a reduced band gap after the adsorption on silver suggests its utility in the design of electro-active organic molecular devices.     

Spontaneous-search method and short-time dynamics: applications to the Domany-Kinzel cellular automaton

The one-dimensional Domany-Kinzel cellular automaton is investigated by two numerical approaches: (i) the spontaneous-search method, which is a method appropriated for a search of criticality; (ii) short-time dynamics. Both critical frontiers of the system are investigated, namely, the one separating the frozen and active phases, as well as the critical line determined by damage spreading between two cellular automata, that splits the active phase into the nonchaotic and chaotic phases. The efficiency of the spontaneous-search method is established herein through a precise estimate of both critical frontiers, and in addition to that, it is shown that this method may also be used in the determination of the critical exponent ν_⊥. Using the critical frontiers obtained, other exponents are estimated through short-time dynamics. It is verified that the critical exponents of both critical frontiers fall in the universality class of directed percolation.     

Resonance enhanced multiphoton ionisation (REMPI) detection of Cl(2Pj) atom in the photodissociation of halogenated pyrimidines at 235 nm: role of triplet states

ABSTRACT

The dynamics of chlorine atom (²P_j) formation in the photodissociation process of halogen substituted pyrimidines, namely, 2,4,6-trichloropyrimidine and 5-chloro-2,4,6-trifluoropyrimidine have been studied around 235?nm using Resonance Enhanced Multiphoton Ionisation Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry technique. For the chlorine atom dissociation channel, we have determined the translational energy distribution, the recoil anisotropy parameter, β, and the spin–orbit branching ratio. In both the molecules, the TOF profiles for Cl (²P_3/2) and Cl* (²P_1/2) are found to be independent of laser polarisation suggesting a zero value for β, within the experimental uncertainties. For 2,4,6-trichloropyrimidine, the average translational energies for Cl and Cl* elimination channels are determined to be 6.0?±?1.2 and 7.0?±?1.5 kcal/mol, respectively. Similarly, for 5-chloro-2,4,6-trifluoropyrimidine, the average translational energies for Cl and Cl* elimination channels are determined to be 6.5?±?1.2 and 7.9?±?1.6 kcal/mol, respectively. Computational calculations are performed to generate the potential energy curves along the dissociating C-Cl bond using equation of motion coupled cluster with single and double excitations (EOM-CCSD) method. Computational studies suggest the role of triplet states in the photodissociation process forming the Cl atom.     

Non-equilibrium phenomena and molecular reaction dynamics: mode space,energy space and conformer space

The ability to characterise and control matter far away from equilibrium is a frontier challenge facing modern science. In this article, we sketch out a heuristic structure for thinking about the different ways in which non-equilibrium phenomena can impact molecular reaction dynamics. Our analytical schema includes three different regimes, organised according to increasing dynamical resolution: at the lowest resolution, we have conformer phase space, at an intermediate resolution, we have energy space; and at the highest resolution, we have mode space. Within each regime, we discuss practical definitions of non-equilibrium phenomena, mostly in terms of the corresponding relaxation timescales. Using this analytical framework, we discuss some recent non-equilibrium reaction dynamics studies spanning isolated small-molecule ensembles, gas-phase ensembles and solution-phase ensembles. This includes new results that provide insight into how non-equilibrium phenomena impact the solution-phase alkene–hydroboration reaction. We emphasise that interesting non-equilibrium dynamical phenomena often occur when the relaxation timescales characterising each regime are similar. In closing, we reflect on outstanding challenges and future research directions to guide our understanding of how non-equilibrium phenomena impact reaction dynamics.     

Time-dependent excited-state molecular dynamics of photodissociation of lanthanide complexes for laser-assisted metal-organic chemical vapour deposition

Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) algorithm was modified for treating time-dependent excited-state molecular dynamics (TDESMD). This algorithm addresses the situations when electron density and nuclear potential are being periodically driven by a strong laser field, which induces periodic population–depopulation Rabi cycles. The electron hopping between different potential energy surfaces, such as ground state and ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) state, creates the nuclear trajectories. In the computed trajectories, the inter-atomic distances can demonstrate different regimes, from small oscillations to abrupt elongations, corresponding to fragmentation of the studied compound. This algorithm was used to explore photodissociation mechanisms for laser-assisted metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (LCVD or laser-assisted MOCVD) process using lanthanide cyclopentadienyl-type precursors. The computed fragments are compared with the ones elucidated experimentally using photoionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry.     

Structural dynamics of 4‐formaldehyde imidazole and imidazole in light absorbing S2(ππ*) state

The short‐time structural dynamics of 4‐formaldehyde imidazole and imidazole in light absorbing S₂(ππ*) state were studied by using resonance Raman spectroscopy and quantum mechanical calculations. The vibrational spectra and ultraviolet absorption spectra of 4‐formaldehyde imidazole were assigned. The resonance Raman spectra of imidazole and 4‐formaldehyde imidazole were obtained in methanol and acetonitrile with excitation wavelengths in resonance with the first intense absorption band to probe the short‐time structural dynamics. complete active space self‐consistent field calculations were carried out to determine the minimal singlet excitation energies and structures of S₁(nπ*), S₂(ππ*), and conical intersection point S₁(nπ*)/S₂(ππ*). The results show that the A‐band structural dynamics of imidazole is predominantly along the N₁H/C₄H/C₅H/C₂H in‐plane bending reaction coordinate, which suggests that excited state proton or hydrogen transfer reaction takes place somewhere nearby the Franck–Condon region. The significant difference in the short‐time structural dynamics between 4‐formaldehyde imidazole and imidazole is observed, and the underlying mechanism is interpreted in term of excited state charge redistribution. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental and ab initio DFT calculated Raman spectrum of Sudan I,a red dye

The red dye Sudan I was investigated by Raman spectroscopy using different excitation wavelengths (1064, 532 and 244 nm). A calculation of the Raman spectrum based on quantum mechanical ab initio density functional theory (DFT) was made using the RB3LYP method with the 3‐21G and 6‐311 + G(d,p) basis sets. The vibrations in the region 1600–1000 cm⁻¹ were found to comprise various mixed modes including in‐plane stretching and bending of various C C, N N, C N and C O bonds and angles in the molecule. Below ∼900 cm⁻¹, the out‐of‐plane bending modes were dominant. The central hydrazo chromophore of the Sudan I molecule was involved in the majority of the vibrations through NN and C N stretching and various bending modes. Low‐intensity bands in the lower wavenumber range (at about 721, 616, 463 and 218 cm⁻¹) were selectively enhanced by the resonance Raman effect when using the 532 nm excitation line. Comparison was made with other azo dyes in the literature on natural, abundant plant pigments. The results show that there is a possibility in foodstuff analysis to distinguish Sudan I from other dyes by using Raman spectroscopy with more than one laser wavelength for resonance enhancement of the different bands Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectroscopy of a single ion coupled to a high-finesse cavity

We describe an ion-based cavity-QED system in which the internal dynamics of an atom is coupled to the modes of an optical cavity by vacuum-stimulated Raman transitions. We observe Raman spectra for different excitation polarizations and find quantitative agreement with theoretical simulations. Residual motion of the ion introduces motional sidebands in the Raman spectrum and leads to ion delocalization. The system offers prospects for cavity-assisted resolved-sideband ground-state cooling and coherent manipulation of ions and photons. C. Russo and H.G. Barros contributed equally to this work.     

Intramolecular diffusive motion in alkane monolayers studied by high-resolution quasielastic neutron scattering and molecular dynamics simulations

Molecular dynamics simulations of a tetracosane (n-C24H50) monolayer adsorbed on a graphite basal-plane surface show that there are diffusive motions associated with the creation and annihilation of gauche defects occurring on a time scale of approximately 0.1-4 ns. We present evidence that these relatively slow motions are observable by high-energy-resolution quasielastic neutron scattering (QNS) thus demonstrating QNS as a technique, complementary to nuclear magnetic resonance, for studying conformational dynamics on a nanosecond time scale in molecular monolayers.