Ab initio SCF CL study of the electronic spectrum of nitroso-methane

Configuration interaction studies of ground, n_ → π^*, n₊ → π^*, and π → π^* electronically excited states are reported for nitroso-methane in its eclipsed equilibrium geometry. The first (n_ → π^*) and the second (n⁺ → π^*) singlet states are calculated at 2.17 and 7.14 eV. it is shown that a significant delocalization of the nonbonding orbitals on the nitrogen and oxygen is responsible for the large energy gap between these two states. The two lowest triplet states occur at 1.29 and 5.39 eV and are of n_ → π^* and π → π^* origin.     

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.     

A molecular orbital study of lithium ion association with bases. The excited carbonyl bases R2CO

SCF CI calculations have been performed to investigate Li^XXX association with excited bases R₂CO. Although association leads to large increases in n → π¹ transition energies, the complexes R₂COLi^XXX remain bound in the n → π¹ state, but are destabilized relative to the ground state. In the Li^XXX-urea complex, the n → π¹ A₂, state lies slightly above a charge-transfer π → σ^* A₂ state.     

Application of the MC SCF method to the π → π* excitation energies of ethylene

The MC SCF method is employed to calculate the N → T and N → V π → π^* vertical excitation energies of ethylene. To obtain accurate excitation energies it is found to be necessary to utilize an expanded valence space containing two π and two π^* orbitals. Relatively small MC SCF calculations, allowing at most one-electron excitations from the sigma space, are found to yield excitation energies and spatial extents of the excited states in excellent agreement with the predictions of large multi-reference or iterative-natural-orbital CI calculations. These results show that within an MC SCF framework σ-σ correlation is unimportant for describing the π → π^* processes. We also conclude that the neglect of the effects of unlinked cluster terms in some of the CI calculations may have introduced small, but important, errors in the excitation energies and predictions of the spatial extent of the V state.     

Electronic structure of the radicals NF and NCI. I. Potential energy curves for NF

Large-scale MRD CI calculations are employed to determine the potential energy curves for the 1π⁴2π², 1π³2π³ and 5σ1π⁴2π³, 1π⁴2π6σ states of NF as well as that of the lowest state of the positive NF⁺ ion. Vertical transition energies to states up to 10 eV are given. In contrast to OZ the ;(5a → 2π) and ³(2π -> 6a) states are found below those arising from the 1π³2π³ configuration. Numerous avoided crossings between states occur, primarily at larger internuclear separations, which cause, for example, a barrier to WE' dissociation and a distinct minimum in the 1¹Σ⁺ curve.     

Large-scale configuration interaction calculations on the π-electron states of benzene

Ab initio extensive configuration interaction calculations were carried out on the π-electron states of benzene. Among the three π → π^*(e_1g → e_2u) singlet states, ¹B_2u(S₁). ¹B_1u(S₂), and ¹E_1u(S₃), the π^* orbital was found to be velence-like in S₁ and S₂, but diffuse in S₃. All three corresponding triplet states, ³B_1u(T₁) and ³B_2u(T₃), were found to be valence-like. The valence-like ¹E_2g(S₄) and ³E_2g(T₄) states were found to have significant double-excitation character, and were estimated to lie somewhat above S₃ and T₃, respectively. No low-lying S₅ and T₅ states were found. Several low-lying Rydberg states were identified.     

Circular dichroism spectra of straight chain mono-olefins. Assignment of ethylene transitions

The circular dichroism spectra of three optically active alkenes, S, 3-methyl-1-pentene, S,4-methyl-1-hexene and S,5-methyl-1-heptane have been measured in the spectral region 200-140 nm in the gas phase. An intense CD band which does not have a well defined analogue in the absorption was observed in all three compounds and is assigned as π → σ_(CH)^*. A second prominent CD band at higher energy is assigned as σ_(CH) → π^*. The assignments of low frequency CD bands are discussed.     

Magnetic circular dichroism and molecular orbital studies on bicyclo[6,2,0] decapentaene

The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectrum of bicyclo[6,2,0] decapentaene has revealed four skeletal π → π^* electronic transitions in the visible and ultraviolet region. The four MCD bands are assigned to the B₂ ← A₁, A₁ ← A₁. B₂ ← A₁ and A₁ ← A₁ electronic transitions in increasing order of energy.     

Resonances in the electronic quenching of O(1D) by N2. A numerical quantum mechanical study for the collinear collision

The close coupled equations for the collinear collision O(¹D) + N₂ (¹Σ⁺_g) → O(³P) + N₂(¹Σ⁺_g) have been solved numerically for a model of two crossing potential curves assuming a constant spin-orbit coupling. Comparison between the results of an atom-atom like model and the converging results reveals a substantial (factor of ≈ 40) enhancement of the electronic quenching at room temperature together with high vibrational excitation of N₂. These results, and the study of the peaks appearing in the quenching probabilities as a function of the incident energy, clearly confirm that the high efficiency of this reaction is mainly due to resonances (quasibound states), as has been lately suggested.     

Electronic absorption of carboxylic acids and their anions

Electronic spectra of formic, acetic, mono-, di-, trichloro- and trifluoroacetic, glycolic, cyanoacetic, pivalic, α-methoxyacetic, lactic, oxalic, tartaric and citric acids and betaine and of corresponding anions were recorded. The acid forms of all the carboxylic acids studied show a medium-strong π → π^* and a weak n → π^* absorption band, the latter in the 220–250-nm region. The corresponding anions (or the completely dissociated forms of polybasic acids) show the π → π^* absorption bands, but no indication of a shoulder corresponding to a n → π^* transition. Changes in the absorbance in the wavelength region corresponding to the n → π^* transition with addition of alkali metal hydroxides can be used for end-point detection in titrations. Changes of these absorbances in solutions of buffers or strong acids can be used for pK determinations. A pK value of 0.89 (at μ = 0.5) was found for dichloroacetic acid; approximate pK values were established by means of the H_o acidity scale for trichloroacetic acid (—0.80) and trifluoroacetic acid (—0.92). Finally, absorbances in the 220–250-nm region can be used for determination of carboxylic acids in solutions of strong acids, and some buffers, like phosphate or borate.     

Non-empirical SCF and Cl Study of the ground and excited states of thioformaldehyde

Ab initio SCF and Cl calculations are reported for ground and various low-lying Rydberg and valence excited states of thioformaldehyde H₂CS. A double-zeta basis of near Hartree-Fock quality is employed in this work and the importance of polarization functions is also assessed. The calculations indicate uniformly larger CX bond lengths in this system than for H₂CO in the corresponding electronic states; they also lind potential minima for H₂CS non-planar nuclear conformations in the (n,π^*) and (π,π^*) excited states but in each case the calculated inversion barriers are seen to be smaller than those encountered in formaldehyde. The vertical transition energies to the various excited states studied are also found to be significantly smaller in H₂CS than in H₂CO but the order of electronic states is concluded to be virtually identical for the two systems. The lowest-lying excited states are the ^3,1(n,π^*) species calculated at 1.84 and 2.17 eV respectively; the first two allowed transitions are indicated to be the Rydberg species (n,s_R) and (n,px_R) at 5.83 and 6.62 eV. These are followed by the two allowed transitions σ → π^* and π → π^* at 7.51 and 7.92 eV respectively, both well below the first ionization limit in H₂CS. The much smaller splitting between the ^3,1(π,π^*) species in H₂CS than in H₂CO is attributed to the relatively diffuse charge distribution of the sulfur atom compared to that of oxygen.     

Theoretical study of the 2Σu+ and 2Σg+ states of Li2− and Na2−

Ab initio calculations are performed to obtain potential energy curves for the X¹Σ_g⁺ state of Li₂ and Na₂ and the X²Σ_g⁺ and A²Σ_g⁺ states of their anions. The A²Σ_g⁺ M₂^? curves are found to intersect the X¹Σ_g⁺M₂ curves at low energies and are expected to play a major role in the e^? + M₂ → M^? + M process.     

Anomalous solvent shift effect and observation of phosphorescence in bilirubin

Bilirubin IX-α has a large extinction coefficient but shows a weak blue-shift in solvents of increasing dielectric constant. A blue-shift is typical of an n → π^* transition, and is here interpreted in terms of the amide group present in the terminal pyrrole rings. Compounds undergoing n → π^* transitions usually form triplet states. With bilirubin, an emission is observed at 77 K; evidence is presented that this may be phosphorescence from an excited triplet state. The energy of this triplet level is 230 kJ mole^?1, thus bilirubin should be capable of sensitizing the formation of ¹Δ_g O₂.     

Surface-hopping model for near-resonant electronic energy transfer

A surface-hopping model is applied to near-resonant electronic energy transfer in the NFBi and O₂I systems. Multiple surface crossings occur in NFBi at ca. 8 A, corresponding well with measured transfer cross section of 200 A². A Landau-Zener model yields the temperature dependence of the thermally averaged cross section for the laser pumping reaction, O^*₂(a¹Δ) + I(²P_{$\text{3}\text{2}$}) → O₂(X³Σ^?_g) + 1^*(²P_{$\text{1}\text{2}$}).     

ESCA studies of polymers. VII. Shake-up phenomena in some alkane–styrene copolymers

Shake-up satellites corresponding to π^* → π transitions accompanying C_1s core ionizations have been studied for polystyrene and a series of alkane–styrene copolymers. It is shown that the shake-up intensities are additive in nature and give a direct measure of copolymer compositions.     

Hydrogen-bonded Intramolecular Charge Transfer Excited State of Dimethylaminobenzophenone using Time Dependent Density FunctionalTheory

Density functional theory and time-dependent density-functional theory have been used to investigate the photophysical properties and relaxation dynamics of dimethylaminobenzophe-none (DMABP) and its hydrogen-bonded DMABP-MeOH dimer. It is found that, in non-polar aprotic solvent, the transitions from S₀ to S₁ and S₂ states of DMABP have both n→π^* and π→π^* characters, with the locally excited feature mainly located on the C=O group and the partial CT one characterized by electron transfer mainly from the dimethylaminophenyl group to the C=O group. But when the intermolecular hydrogen bond C=O…H-O is formed, the highly polar intramolecular charge transfer character switches over to the first excited state of DMABP-MeOH dimer and the energy difference between the two low-lying electronically excited states increases. To gain insight into the relaxation dynamics of DMABP and DMABP-MeOH dimer in the excited state, the potential energy curves for con-formational relaxation are calculated. The formation of twisted intramolecular charge trans-fer state via diffusive twisting motion of the dimethylamino/dimethylaminophenyl groups is found to be the major relaxation process. In addition, the decay of the S1 state of DMABP-MeOH dimer to the ground state, through nonradiative intermolecular hydrogen bond stretching vibrations, is facilitated by the formation of the hydrogen bond between DMABP and alcohols.     

A non-empirical SCF and CI study of the electronic spectrum of pyrrole

Various electronically excited states of pyrrole have been studied by ab initio SCF and CI calculations including π → π^* and π → Rydberg excitations. Optically allowed valence type transitions are found at energies higher than 6.5 eV whereas all the lower singlet states are of Rydberg type. In addition to the experimentally known triplet states at 4.23 and 5.10 eV, several new triplet transitions with energies from 5.71 to 7.10 eV are predicted. In most cases good agreement with experimental data is found.     

Yields of singlet nitrenes from halogen atom—azide molecule reactions

Chemiluminescence from the a¹Δ and b¹Σ⁺ excited electronic states of nitrogen halide diatomics is observed when HN₃ is allowed to react with mixtures of halogen atoms in a discharge-flow apparatus. Excited NF (a¹Δ) is produced by the F + HN₃ reaction, and NCl (a¹Δ, b¹Σ⁺) and NBr (a¹Δ, b¹Σ⁺) are produced by the F, Cl, + HN₃ and F, Br + HN₃ reactions, respectively. In the low-density limit, the yield of NF(a¹Δ) was found to be near unity. The yields of the b¹Σ⁺ states of NCl and NBr were determined to have a lower limit of ca. 10%. A number of results from these experiments, including direct observation of N₃ radicals in the flow, support a hypothetical mechanism in which N₃ acts as an intermediate. A second possible mechanism proceeding via an HNF intermediate cannot be ruled out.     

A Valence Bond Study of the Low‐Lying States of the NF Molecule

The electronic structures of the three lowest‐lying states of NF are investigated by means of modern valence bond (VB) methods such as the VB self‐consistent field (VBSCF), breathing orbital VB (BOVB), and VB configuration interaction (VBCI) methods. The wave functions for the three states are expressed in terms of 9–12 VB structures, which can be further condensed into three or four classical Lewis structures, whose weights are quantitatively estimated. Despite the compactness of the wave functions, the BOVB and VBCI methods reproduce the spectroscopic properties and dipole moments of the three states well, in good agreement with previous computational studies and experimental values. By analogy to the isoelectronic O₂ molecule, the ground state ³Σ^? possesses both a σ bond and 3‐electron π bonds. However, here the polar σ bond contributes the most to the overall bonding. It is augmented by a fractional (19 %) contribution of three‐electron π bonding that arises from π charge transfer from fluorine to nitrogen. In the singlet ¹Δ and ¹Σ⁺ excited states the π‐bonding component is classically covalent, and it contributes 28 % and 37 % to the overall bonding picture for the two states, respectively. The resonance energies are calculated and reveal that π bonding contributes at least 24, 35 and 42 kcal mol^?1 to the total bonding energies of the ³Σ^?, ¹Δ and ¹Σ⁺ states, respectively. Some unusual properties of the NF molecule, like the equilibrium distance shortening and bonding energy increasing upon excitation, the counterintuitive values of the dipole moments and the reversal of the dipole moments as the bond is stretched, are interpreted in the light of the simple valence bond picture. The overall polarity of the molecule is very small in the ground state, and is opposite to the relative electronegativity of N vs F in the singlet excited states. The values of the dipole moments in the three states are quantitatively accounted for by the calculated weights of the VB structures.     

Zur Deutung des UV.-Spektrums von Pyridin-N-oxid

From measurements of the influence of an electric field on the absorption spectrum of pyridine-N-oxide it is concluded that the 330 nm band is polarized perpendicular to the dipole moment, while the 280 nm transition moment lies parallel. Furthermore from these experiments the dipole moments in both excited states have been determined (Table 1). PARISER -PARR -POPLE -calculations as well as CNDO-calculations admit an assignment of the 330 nm band to an A₁ → B₁, π → π* transition and of the 280 nm band to an A₁ → A₁, π → π* transition. Thereby energy, polarization, intensity of the transition, and the dipole moments of the excited states have been taken into consideration. This assignment does not exclude the possibility of a weak n-π* transition at approximately the same wavelength as the A₁ → B₁ transition.