Ab initio study on the photochemical behavior of styrene

Ab initio complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) and the second order multireference Møller‐Plesset calculations have been performed to examine the photochemical behavior of styrene upon the strong S₀‐S₂ electronic excitation in the low‐lying excited states. The optimized structure at the S₂/S₁ conical intersection (CIX) is characterized by a quinoid structure. The transition state (TS) in S₁ is in the vicinity of the S₂/S₁‐CIX. At the S₁‐TS, two reaction paths branch. One is the relaxation into the stable structure in S₁ and then emission into S₀. The other is the radiationless decay through the S₁/S₀‐CIX. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 10: 950–956, 2002     

Structure of Pyridazine in the S1 State: Experiment and Theory

The molecular structure of pyridazine in the first electronically excited state (S₁) is deduced from the combined use of resonance‐enhanced two‐photon ionization and mass‐analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopic methods. The equation‐of‐motion coupled‐cluster single and double (EOM–CCSD) calculation gives the distorted planar geometry for the most stable structure of the S₁ pyridazine. The symmetry constraint of C_2v is relaxed to that of C_s, and consequently many in‐plane vibrational modes are found to be optically active in both S₁–S₀ and D₀–S₁ excitation spectra, being appropriately assigned from the comparison of their frequencies with ab initio values. This indicates that the S₁–S₀ excitation is partially localized, and provides an alternative explanation for the long‐standing spectroscopic puzzle in S₁ pyridazine.     

Mechanism for the Nonadiabatic Photooxidation of Benzene to Phenol: Orientation‐Dependent Proton‐Coupled Electron Transfer

An efficient catalytic one‐step conversion of benzene to phenol was achieved recently by selective photooxidation under mild conditions with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐p‐benzoquinone (DDQ) as the photocatalyst. Herein, high‐level electronic structure calculations in the gas phase and in acetonitrile solution are reported to explore the underlying mechanism. The initially populated ¹ππ* state of DDQ can relax efficiently through a nearby dark ¹nπ* doorway state to the ³ππ* state of DDQ, which is found to be the precursor state involved in the initial intermolecular electron transfer from benzene to DDQ. The subsequent triplet‐state reaction between DDQ radical anions, benzene radical cations, and water is computed to be facile. The formed DDQH and benzene‐OH radicals can undergo T₁→S₀ intersystem crossing and concomitant proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) to generate the products DDQH₂ and phenol. Two of the four considered nonadiabatic pathways involve an orientation‐dependent triplet PCET process, followed by intersystem crossing to the ground state (S₀). The other two first undergo a nonadiabatic T₁→S₀ transition to produce a zwitterionic S₀ complex, followed by a barrierless proton transfer. The present theoretical study identifies novel types of nonadiabatic PCET processes and provides detailed mechanistic insight into DDQ‐catalyzed photooxidation.     

Molecular Structure, Vibrational Spectrum and Ionization Energy of m-Dimethoxybenzene

The optimized molecular geometries of the three rotamers of m-dimethoxybenzene in the ground So and electronically excited Sl states were predicted by ab initio and density functional theory （DFF） calculations. Their vibrational spectra in the St state were studied by one color resonant two photon ionization （1C-R2PI） method, and their ionization energies were measured by two color resonant two photon ionization （2C-R2PI） experiment. The optimized molecular geometries showed that the total energy of conformer a was the lowest in the So state. Most of the active vibrations assigned from the 1C-R2PI spectrum were found to be of the in-plane ring modes. The ionization energies （IE） of conformers a, b and c were determined to be 63521, 64487 and 63755 cm^-1, respectively.     

On the Controversial Fitting of Susceptibility Curves of Ferromagnetic CuII Cubanes: Insights from Theoretical Calculations

This paper reports a theoretical analysis of the electronic structure and magnetic properties of a tetranuclear Cu^II complex, [Cu₄(HL)₄], which has a 4+2 cubane‐like structure (H₃L=N,N′‐(2‐hydroxypropane‐1,3‐diyl)bis(acetylacetoneimine)). These theoretical calculations indicate a quintet (S=2) ground state; the energy‐level distribution of the magnetic states confirm Heisenberg behaviour and correspond to an S₄ spin–spin interaction model. The dominant interaction is the ferromagnetic coupling between the pseudo‐dimeric units (J₁=22.2 cm^?1), whilst a weak and ferromagnetic interaction is found within the pseudo‐dimeric units (J₂=1.4 cm^?1). The amplitude and sign of these interactions are consistent with the structure and arrangement of the magnetic Cu 3d orbitals; they accurately simulate the thermal dependence of magnetic susceptibility, but do not agree with the reported J values (J₁=38.4 cm^?1, J₂=?18.0 cm^?1) that result from the experimental fitting. This result is not an isolated case; many other polynuclear systems, in particular 4+2 Cu^II cubanes, have been reported in which the fitted magnetic terms are not consistent with the geometrical features of the system. In this context, theoretical evaluation can be considered as a valuable tool in the interpretation of the macroscopic behaviour, thus providing clues for a rational and directed design of new materials with specific properties.     

Pseudo-bimolecular [2+2] cycloaddition studied by time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy

The first study of pseudo‐bimolecular cycloaddition reaction dynamics in the gas phase is presented. We used femtosecond time‐resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TRPES) to study the [2+2] photocycloaddition in the model system pseudo‐gem‐divinyl[2.2]paracyclophane. From X‐ray crystal diffraction measurements we found that the ground‐state molecule can exist in two conformers; a reactive one in which the vinyl groups are immediately situated for [2+2] cycloaddition and a nonreactive conformer in which they point in opposite directions. From the measured S₁ lifetimes we assigned a clear relation between the conformation and the excited‐state reactivity; the reactive conformer has a lifetime of 13 ps, populating the ground state through a conical intersection leading to [2+2] cycloaddition, whereas the nonreactive conformer has a lifetime of 400 ps. Ab initio calculations were performed to locate the relevant conical intersection (CI) and calculate an excited‐state [2+2] cycloaddition reaction path. The interpretation of the results is supported by experimental results on the similar but nonreactive pseudo‐para‐divinyl[2.2]paracyclophane, which has a lifetime of more than 500 ps in the S₁ state.     

Vibrational Spectrum and Gas‐Phase Structure of Disulfur Dinitride (S2N2)

Gas‐phase FTIR spectra of the ν₆ (B‐type) and the ν₄ (C‐type) fundamental bands of S₂N₂ (D_2h) were recorded with a resolution of ≤0.004 cm^?1 and the vibrational spectrum of S₂N₂ (D_2h) in solid Ar has been revisited. All IR‐active fundamentals and four combination bands were assigned in excellent agreement with calculated values from anharmonic VPT2 and VCI theory based on (explicitly correlated) coupled‐cluster surfaces. Accurate experimental vibrational ground‐ and excited‐state rotational constants of ³²S₂¹⁴N₂ are obtained from a rovibrational analysis of the ν₆ and ν₄ fundamental bands, and precise zero‐point average r_z (R_z(SN)=1.647694(95) Å, α_z(NSN)=91.1125(33)°) and semi‐experimental equilibrium structures (R_e(SN)=1.64182(33) Å, α_e(NSN)=91.0716(93)°) of S₂N₂ have been established. These are compared to the solid‐state structure of S₂N₂ and structural properties of related sulfur nitrogen compounds and to results of ab initio structure calculations.     

Computational Photochemistry of the Azobenzene Scaffold of Sudan I and Orange II Dyes: Excited‐State Proton Transfer and Deactivation via Conical Intersections

We employed the complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) and its multistate second‐order perturbation (MS‐CASPT2) methods to explore the photochemical mechanism of 2‐hydroxyazobenzene, the molecular scaffold of Sudan I and Orange II dyes. It was found that the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) along the bright diabatic ¹ππ* state is barrierless and ultrafast. Along this diabatic ¹ππ* relaxation path, the system can jump to the dark ¹nπ* state via the ¹ππ*/¹nπ* crossing point. However, ESIPT in this dark state is largely inhibited owing to a sizeable barrier. We also found two deactivation channels that decay ¹ππ* keto and ¹nπ* enol species to the ground state via two energetically accessible S₁/S₀ conical intersections. Finally, we encountered an interesting phenomenon in the excited‐state hydrogen‐bonding strength: it is reinforced in the ¹ππ* state, whereas it is reduced in the ¹nπ* state. The present work sets the stage for understanding the photophysics and photochemistry of Sudan I–IV, Orange II, Ponceau 2R, Ponceau 4R, and azo violet.     

A CASSCF study on the lowest π→π* excitation of urocanic acid

The photochemical cis/trans isomerization of urocanic acid (UCA, (E)‐3‐(1′H‐imidazol‐4′‐yl)propenoic acid) was investigated using complete active space SCF (CASSCF) ab initio calculations. The singlet ground state and the triplet and the singlet manifolds of the lowest‐lying π→π* (HOMO→LUMO) excitation of the neutral and the anionic UCA were calculated using the 6‐31G* and the 6‐31+G* basis sets, respectively. The torsional barrier of the double bond of the propenoic acid moiety in UCA is observed to be considerably lower in the T₁ and S₁ excited states of the neutral UCA and in the T₁ but not in the S₁ excited state of the anionic UCA, as compared to the S₀ state of the respective protonation form. The cis‐isomer of both the neutral and the anionic UCA is lower in energy than the trans‐isomer in the S₀, T₁, and S₁ states. This energy difference is larger in the excited states than in the ground state, probably due to strengthening of the intramolecular hydrogen bond of cis‐UCA as the molecule is excited. The results of the calculations, interpreted in terms of the idea that UCA is deprotonated upon electronic excitation, led to construction of a new model for the photoisomerization mechanisms of UCA. According to this model, the trans‐to‐cis isomerization proceeds via both the triplet and the singlet manifolds in the deprotonated form of UCA. This isomerization may occur in the S₀ state of the neutral UCA as well. The cis‐to‐trans isomerization is suggested to proceed only in the S₀ state of the neutral UCA. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 72: 25–37, 1999     

硫代樟脑光化学反应的理论研究

运用量子化学方法优化了硫代樟脑的最低5个电子态(S₀, T₁, S₁, T₂和S₂)的结构, 并计算了它们的相对能量. 计算结果表明: S₁, T₁和T₂态的能量非常接近, 而S₂的能量远远高于T₂态, 这与之前对几种小的硫代羰基化合物的研究结论一致. 确定了硫代樟脑分子在T₁态发生β-插入反应和类Norrish II型反应的机理, 计算的势垒相对于S₀的振动零点分别为314.1和332.6 kJ/mol. 在400 nm波长的光的照射下, 分子被激发到S₁态, 此时分子没有足够的能量发生反应, 只能通过内转换回到基态. 当激发光波长在254 nm时, 硫代樟脑分子被激发到S₂态, 这时候体系有了足够的内部能量使反应发生. 实验上已经观察到此激发光波长下, 气态硫代樟脑可以发生β-插入反应和类Norrish II型反应.     

A Time‐Dependent Picture of the Ultrafast Deactivation of keto‐Cytosine Including Three‐State Conical Intersections

Using mixed quantum–classical dynamics, the lowest part of the UV absorption spectrum and the first deactivation steps of keto‐cytosine have been investigated. The spectrum shows several strong peaks, which mainly come from the S₁ and S₂ states, with minor contributions from the S₃. The semiclassical trajectories, launched from these three states, clearly indicate that at least four states are involved in the relaxation of keto‐cytosine to the ground state. Non‐adiabatic transfer between the ππ* and nπ* excited states and deactivation via three‐state conical intersections is observed in the very early stage of the dynamics. In less than 100 fs, a large amount of population is deactivated to the ground state via several mechanisms; some population remains trapped in the S₂ state. The latter two events can be connected to the fs and ps transients observed experimentally.     

Origin of the Magnetic Anisotropy in Heptacoordinate NiII and CoII Complexes

The nature and magnitude of the magnetic anisotropy of heptacoordinate mononuclear Ni^II and Co^II complexes were investigated by a combination of experiment and ab initio calculations. The zero‐field splitting (ZFS) parameters D of [Ni(H₂DAPBH)(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ ? 2 H₂O ( 1 ) and [Co(H₂DAPBH)(H₂O)(NO₃)](NO₃) [ 2 ; H₂DAPBH=2,6‐diacetylpyridine bis‐ (benzoyl hydrazone)] were determined by means of magnetization measurements and high‐field high‐frequency EPR spectroscopy. The negative D value, and hence an easy axis of magnetization, found for the Ni^II complex indicates stabilization of the highest M_S value of the S=1 ground spin state, while a large and positive D value, and hence an easy plane of magnetization, found for Co^II indicates stabilization of the M_S=±1/2 sublevels of the S=3/2 spin state. Ab initio calculations were performed to rationalize the magnitude and the sign of D, by elucidating the chemical parameters that govern the magnitude of the anisotropy in these complexes. The negative D value for the Ni^II complex is due largely to a first excited triplet state that is close in energy to the ground state. This relatively small energy gap between the ground and the first excited state is the result of a small energy difference between the d_xy and ${{\rm{d}}_{x^2 - y^2 } }$ orbitals owing to the pseudo‐pentagonal‐bipyramidal symmetry of the complex. For Co^II, all of the excited states contribute to a positive D value, which accounts for the large magnitude of the anisotropy for this complex.     

Electronic and Vibrational Spectroscopy of 1‐Methylthymine and its Water Clusters: The Dark State Survives Hydration

Electronic and vibrational gas phase spectra of 1‐methylthymine (1MT) and 1‐methyluracil (1MU) and their clusters with water are presented. Mass selective IR/UV double resonance spectra confirm the formation of pyrimidine‐water clusters and are compared to calculated vibrational spectra obtained from ab initio calculations. In contrast to Y. He, C. Wu, W. Kong; J. Phys. Chem. A, 2004 , 108, 94 we are able to detect 1MT/1MU and their water clusters via resonant two‐photon delayed ionization under careful control of the applied water‐vapor pressure. The long‐living dark electronic state of 1MT and 1MU detected by delayed ionization, survives hydration and the photostability of 1MT/1MU cannot be attributed solely to hydration. Oxygen coexpansions and crossed‐beam experiments indicate that the triplet state population is probably small compared to the ¹nπ* and/or hot electronic ground state population. Ab initio theory shows that solvation of 1MT by water does not lead to a substantial modification of the electronic relaxation and quenching of the ¹nπ* state. Relaxation pathways via ¹ππ*¹–nπ*¹ and ¹ππ *–S₀ conical intersections and barriers have been identified, but are not significantly altered by hydration.     

Magnetic Coupling Constants of Self‐Assembled CuII [3×3] Grids: Alternative Spin Model from Theoretical Calculations

This paper reports a theoretical analysis of the electronic structure and magnetic properties of a ferromagnetic Cu^II [3×3] grid. A two‐step strategy, combining calculations on the whole grid and on binuclear fragments, has been employed to evaluate all the magnetic interactions in the grid. The calculations confirm an S=7/2 ground state, which is in accordance with the magnetisation versus field curve and the thermal dependence of the magnetic moment data. Only the first‐neighbour coupling terms present non‐negligible amplitudes, all of them in agreement with the structure and arrangement of the Cu 3d magnetic orbitals. The results indicate that the dominant interaction in the system is the antiferromagnetic coupling between the ring and the central Cu sites (J₃=J₄≈?31 cm^?1). In the ring two different interactions can be distinguished, J₁=4.6 cm^?1 and J₂=?0.1 cm^?1, in contrast to the single J model employed in the magnetic data fit. The calculated J values have been used to determine the energy level distribution of the Heisenberg magnetic states. The effective magnetic moment versus temperature plot resulting from this ab initio energy profile is in good agreement with the experimental curve and the fitting obtained with the simplified spin model, despite the differences between these two spin models. This study underlines the role that the theoretical evaluations of the coupling constants can play on the rationalisation of the magnetic properties of these complex polynuclear systems.     

Photophysics of Schiff Bases: Theoretical Study of Salicylidene Methylamine

The proton‐transfer reaction in a model aromatic Schiff base, salicylidene methylamine (SMA), in the ground and in the lowest electronically‐excited singlet states, is theoretically analyzed with the aid of second‐order approximate coupled‐cluster model CC2, time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) using the Becke, three‐parameter Lee–Yang–Parr (B3LYP) functional, and complete active space perturbation theory CASPT2 electronic structure methods. Computed vertical‐absorption spectra for the stable ground‐state isomers of SMA fully confirm the photochromism of SMA. The potential‐energy profiles of the ground and the lowest excited singlet state are calculated and four photophysically relevant isomeric forms of SMA; α, β, γ, and δ are discussed. The calculations indicate two S₁/S₀ conical intersections which provide non‐adiabatic gates for a radiationless decay to the ground state. The photophysical scheme which emerges from the theoretical study is related to recent experimental results obtained for SMA and its derivatives in the low‐temperature argon matrices (J. Grzegorzek, A. Filarowski, Z. Mielke, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2011 , 13, 16596–16605). Our results suggest that aromatic Schiff bases are potential candidates for optically driven molecular switches.     

Femtochemistry of trans‐Azomethane: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study

The dissociation dynamics of trans‐azomethane upon excitation to the S₁(n,π*) state with a total energy of 93 kcal mol^?1 is investigated using femtosecond‐resolved mass spectrometry in a molecular beam. The transient signal shows an opposite pump–probe excitation feature for the UV (307 nm) and the visible (615 nm) pulses at the perpendicular polarization in comparison with the signal obtained at the parallel polarization: The one‐photon symmetry‐forbidden process excited by the UV pulse is dominant at the perpendicular polarization, whereas the two‐photon symmetry‐allowed process initiated by the visible pulse prevails at the parallel polarization. At the perpendicular polarization, we found that the two C? N bonds of the molecule break in a stepwise manner, that is, the first C? N bond breaks in ≈70 fs followed by the second one in ≈100 fs, with the intermediate characterized. At the parallel polarization, the first C? N bond cleavage was found to occur in 100 fs with the intensity of the symmetry‐allowed transition being one order of magnitude greater than the intensity of the symmetry‐forbidden transition at the perpendicular polarization. Theoretical calculations using time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and the complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) method have been carried out to characterize the potential energy surface for the ground state, the low‐lying excited states, and the cationic ground state at various levels of theory. Combining the experimental and theoretical results, we identified the elementary steps in the mechanism: The initial driving force of the ultrafast bond‐breaking process of trans‐azomethane (at the perpendicular polarization) is due to the CNNC torsional motion initiated by the vibronic coupling through an intensity‐borrowing mechanism for the symmetry‐forbidden n–π* transition. Following this torsional motion and the associated molecular symmetry breaking, an S₀/S₁ conical intersection (CI) can be reached at a torsional angle of 93.1° (predicted at the CASSCF(8,7)/cc‐pVDZ level of theory). Funneling through the S₀/S₁ CI could activate the asymmetric C? N stretching motion, which is the key motion for the consecutive C? N bond breakages on the femtosecond time scale.     

Theoretical Study on Photoisomerization Mechanisms of Diphenyl-Substituted N,C-Chelate Organoboron Compounds

N,C-chelate organoboron compounds are widely employed as photoresponsive and optoelectronic materials due to their efficient photochromic reactivity. It was found in experiments that two diphenyl-substituted organoboron compounds, namely B(ppy)Ph₂ (ppy=2-phenylpyridyl) and B(iba)Ph₂ (iba=N-isopropylbenzylideneamine), show distinct photochemical reactivity. B(ppy)Ph₂ is inert on irradiation, whereas B(iba)Ph₂ undergoes photoinduced transformations, yielding BN-cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene via a borirane intermediate. In this work, the complete active space self-consistent field and its second-order perturbation (CASPT2//CASSCF) methods were used to investigate the photoinduced reaction mechanisms of B(ppy)Ph₂ and B(iba)Ph₂. The calculations showed that the two compounds isomerize to borirane in the same way by passing a transition state in the S₁ state and a conical intersection between the S₁ and S₀ states. The energy barriers in the S₁ state of 0.54 and 0.26 eV for B(ppy)Ph₂ and B(iba)Ph₂, respectively, were explained by analyzing the charge distributions of minima in S₀ and S₁ states. The results provide helpful insights into the excited-state dynamics of organoboron compounds, which could assist in rational design of boron-based photoresponsive materials.     

Ab initio static and molecular dynamics study of 4-styrylpyridine.

We report an in‐depth theoretical study of 4‐styrylpyridine in its singlet S₀ ground state. The geometries and the relative stabilities of the trans and cis isomers were investigated within density functional theory (DFT) as well as within Hartree–Fock (HF), second‐order Møller–Plesset (MP2), and coupled cluster (CC) theories. The DFT calculations were performed using the B3LYP and PBE functionals, with basis sets of different qualities, and gave results that are very consistent with each other. The molecular structure is thus predicted to be planar at the energy minimum, which is associated with the trans conformation, and to become markedly twisted at the minimum of higher energy, which is associated with the cis conformation. The results of the calculations performed with the post‐HF methods approach those obtained with the DFT methods, provided that the level of treatment of the electronic correlation is high enough and that sufficiently flexible basis sets are used. Calculations carried out within DFT also allowed the determination of the geometry and the energy of the molecule at the biradicaloid transition state associated with the thermal cis?trans isomerization and at the transition states associated with the enantiomerization of the cis isomer and with the rotations of the pyridinyl and phenyl groups in the trans and cis isomers. Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations were also performed at 50, 150, and 300 K using the PBE functional. The studies allowed us to evidence the highly flexible nature of the molecule in both conformations. In particular, the trans isomer was found to exist mainly in a nonplanar form at finite temperatures, while the rotation of the pyridinyl ring in the cis isomer was incidentally observed to take place within ≈1 ps during the simulation carried out at 150 K on this isomer.     

Theoretical studies on the electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of a series of novel N?C?N‐coordinating Pt(II) complexes

The electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of the three tridentate cyclometalated Platinum(II) complexes PtL¹Cl [L¹ = 1,3‐di(2‐pyridyl)‐5‐methyl‐benzene] ( 1 ), PtL²Cl [L² = 1‐(2‐pyridyl)‐3‐(1‐pyrazolyl)‐5‐methyl‐benzene] ( 2 ), and PtL³Cl [L³ = 1,3‐bis(1‐pyrazolyl)‐5‐methyl‐benzene] ( 3 ) were calculated to explore their spectroscopic nature. The geometry structures of 1 – 3 in the ground and excited states were optimized under the density functional theory (DFT) and the single‐excitation configuration interaction (CIS) level, respectively. The absorption and emission spectra in CH₂Cl₂ solution were calculated by the time‐dependent density‐functional theory (TD‐DFT) with the polarized continuum model solvent model. As revealed from the calculations, the LUMO of 1 and 2 are localized on phenyl and pyridyl, but that of 3 has 50.3% π*(pyrazolyl) and 47.8% π*(phenyl). The energy gap of the d‐d state was much greater than that of the CT transitions. With the replacement of pyridyl by pyrazolyl, the electron‐donating ability of N atom decreases, whereas the LUMO energy level increases. The lowest‐energy absorptions and emissions are blue‐shifted in the order 1 > 2 > 3 , which are assigned as the ILCT/MLCT/LLCT and ³ILCT/³MLCT/³LLCT characters, respectively. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010