Efficient photochemical merocyanine-to-spiropyran ring closure mechanism through an extended conical intersection seam. A model CASSCF/CASPT2 study

A mechanism of the thermal and photochemical bleaching of merocyanine to spiropyran is proposed on the basis of CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations on the 6-(2-propenyliden)cyclohexadienone model system. Our results suggest that this photochemical transformation takes place in two steps. First, the initially pumped 1(pi-pi) S2 undergoes radiationless decay to 1(n-pi) S1 via an extended S2/S1 conical intersection seam that runs approximately parallel to the trans-to-cis isomerization coordinate, a few kilocalories per mole higher in energy. Thus, S2 --> S1 internal conversion is possible at all values of the S2 trans-to-cis reaction coordinate. Second, on the S1 potential energy surface, there is a barrierless ring closure reaction path from the S1 cis minimum that leads to a peaked S1/S0 conical intersection where the deactivation to the ground state takes place. The inertia of the moving nuclei then drives the system toward the ground-state minimum of the 2H-chromene product. Thus, the extended seam topology of the S2/S1 conical intersection and the coordinate of the branching space of the S1/S0 conical intersection are essential to explain the efficiency and high speed of this reaction.     

CASPT2 study of the decomposition of nitrosomethane and its tautomerization reactions in the ground and low-lying excited states

The dissociation reaction of nitrosomethane into methyl and nitric oxide and the tautomerization reactions to formaldehyde oxime, nitrone, and methoxy nitrene have been studied with the second-order multiconfigurational perturbation theory (CASPT2) by the computation of numerical energy gradients. The prevailing reactions in both the ground and the excited states are dissociations. The structures of the ground and excited states are compared with the corresponding complete active space SCF (CAS-SCF) geometries. It is found that changes in the individual bond lengths are rather large (0.01-0.02 A), while the character and energetics of the CASPT2 optimizations remain similar to the CAS-SCF values.     

Internal conversion of the anionic GFP chromophore: in and out of the I-twisted S1/S0 conical intersection seam

The functional diversity of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) family is intimately connected to the interplay between competing photo-induced transformations of the chromophore motif, anionic p-hydroxybenzylidene-2,3-dimethylimidazolinone (HBDI⁻). Its ability to undergo Z/E-isomerization is of particular importance for super-resolution microscopy and emerging opportunities in optogenetics. Yet, key dynamical features of the underlying internal conversion process in the native HBDI⁻ chromophore remain largely elusive. We investigate the intrinsic excited-state behavior of isolated HBDI⁻ to resolve competing decay pathways and map out the factors governing efficiency and the stereochemical outcome of photoisomerization. Based on non-adiabatic dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that non-selective progress along the two bridge-torsional (i.e., phenolate, P, or imidazolinone, I) pathways accounts for the three decay constants reported experimentally, leading to competing ultrafast relaxation primarily along the I-twisted pathway and S₁ trapping along the P-torsion. The majority of the population (∼70%) is transferred to S₀ in the vicinity of two approximately enantiomeric minima on the I-twisted intersection seam (MECI-Is). Despite their sloped, reactant-biased topographies (suggesting low photoproduct yields), we find that decay through these intersections leads to products with a surprisingly high quantum yield of ∼30%. This demonstrates that E-isomer generation results at least in part from direct isomerization on the excited state. A photoisomerization committor analysis reveals a difference in intrinsic photoreactivity of the two MECI-Is and that the observed photoisomerization is the combined result of two effects: early, non-statistical dynamics around the less reactive intersection followed by later, near-statistical behavior around the more reactive MECI-I. Our work offers new insight into internal conversion of HBDI⁻ that both establishes the intrinsic properties of the chromophore and enlightens principles for the design of chromophore derivatives and protein variants with improved photoswitching properties.

The Z–E photoisomerization quantum yield of the HBDI⁻ chromophore is a result of early, non-statistical dynamics around a less reactive I-twisted intersection and later, statistical behavior around the more reactive, near-enantiomeric counterpart.     

A novel conical intersection topography and its consequences: the 1, 2 2A conical intersection seam of the vinoxy radical

A region of the 1, 2 2A seam of accidental conical intersections in the vinoxy radical exhibits a novel topography which has important consequences for both upper-state to lower-state and lower-state to upper-state nonadiabatic transitions. The impact of this topography on these nonadiabatic transitions is described. We also considered the possibility that this conical intersection seam provides a dynamical bottleneck to the photodissociation of vinoxy to H+ketene by facilitating nonadiabatic recrossing. Our analysis of the conical topographies and the proximity of the conical intersections to the transition state for dissociation to H+ketene does not support nonadiabatic recrossing as an effective dynamical bottleneck blocking the H+ketene channel.     

Cyclic-N3. I. An accurate potential energy surface for the ground doublet electronic state up to the energy of the 2A2/2B1 conical intersection

A sophisticated adiabatic ground electronic state potential energy surface for a pure nitrogen ring (cyclic-N3) molecule is constructed based on extensive high-level ab initio calculations and accurate three-dimensional spline representation. Most of the important features of the potential energy surface are presented using various reduced dimensionality slices in internal hyperspherical coordinates as well as full dimensional isoenergy surfaces. Very significant geometric phase effects are predicted in the spectra of rotational-vibrational states of cyclic-N3.     

DFT and CASPT2 study of two thermal reactions of nitromethane: C–N bond cleavage and nitro-to-nitrite isomerization. An example of the inverse symmetry breaking deficiency in density functional calculations of an homolytic dissociation

The reaction paths of nitromethane leading to the dissociation products or isomerization to methyl nitrite have been computationally investigated at the CAS-SCF and DFT levels of theory. Additionally, the CAS-SCF wave functions were used as reference in a second-order perturbation treatment, CASPT2, in order to obtain a good estimate for the activation energy of each reaction path. Both methods predict the isomerization as a concerted reaction. However, the behavior of the two approximations with respect to dissociation is rather different; while CASPT2 predicts a barrier height of (≈59 kcal/mol) in good accordance with the experimental activation energy (59.0 kcal/mol), B3-LYP/6-31G^* calculations overestimate the barrier for more than 30 kcal/mol. The DFT prediction of the dissociation channel exhibits inverse symmetry breaking, dissociating to the unphysical absurd CH₃^δ+ plus NO₂^δ−.     

Reduced dimension discrete variable representation study of cis-trans isomerization in the S1 state of C2H2

Isomerization between the cis and trans conformers of the S(1) state of acetylene is studied using a reduced dimension discrete variable representation (DVR) calculation. Existing DVR techniques are combined with a high accuracy potential energy surface and a kinetic energy operator derived from FG theory to yield an effective but simple Hamiltonian for treating large amplitude motions. The spectroscopic signatures of the S(1) isomerization are discussed, with emphasis on the vibrational aspects. The presence of a low barrier to isomerization causes distortion of the trans vibrational level structure and the appearance of nominally electronically forbidden A? (1)A(2)←X? (1)Σ(g)(+) transitions to vibrational levels of the cis conformer. Both of these effects are modeled in agreement with experimental results, and the underlying mechanisms of tunneling and state mixing are elucidated by use of the calculated vibrational wavefunctions.     

A theoretical study of the photochemical isomerization reactions of furans from the triplet state

The mechanisms of photoisomerization reactions were investigated theoretically using a model system of 2-methylfuran with the CASSCF (10-electron/8-orbital active space) and MP2-CAS methods and the 6-311(d,p) basis set. After 2-methylfuran molecules are produced in the T(1) state by photoexcitation at 254 nm, intersystem crossing to the S(0) surface is the most probable pathway for deactivation. Relaxing to the S(0) state, the 2-methylfuran molecules can dissociate into 3-methylcyclopropene and carbon monoxide products. Otherwise, they may revert to singlet 2-methylfuran or undergo photorearrangement to produce 3-methylfuran. These stepwise mechanisms are consistent with the available experimental observations.     

S2BrH的构型及其异构化反应的理论研究

由于在合成化学、大气化学和环境保护中的重要性，过硫化物XSSX(X=H，CH3，F，Cl等)被广泛研究。本文采用量子化学的密度泛函方法(DFT)，对S2BrH可能存在的2种构型的几何结构、相对稳定性以及可能的分子内原子迁移过程进行研究，探讨分叉型异构体SSBrH存在的可能性。     

S1←S0 vibronic spectrum and structure of fluoral in the S1 state

The vibronic absorption spectrum of fluoral vapor was studied in the region of the S₁←S₀ electronic transition (313–360 nm). The origin O₀ ⁰⁺) of the transition (29419 cm⁻¹) and a number of fundamental frequencies in the S₀ and S₁ states were determined. The character of intensity distribution in the spectral bands indicates that the electronic excitation leads to significant change of the CF₃ group orientation relative to the molecular frame. Moreover, it was found that the carbonyl fragment of the molecule in the S₁ state has pyramidal structure (in contrast, the carbonyl fragment of the fluoral molecule in the S₀ state is planar). The experimental torsion and inversion energy levels were used for the calculation of internal rotation and inversion potential functions of fluoral molecule in the S₁ state. The potential barriers to internal rotation and inversion were found to be 1270 cm⁻¹ (15.2 kJ mol⁻¹) and 550 cm⁻¹ (6.6 kJ mol⁻¹), respectively. The conformational changes caused by S₁←S₀ electronic excitation in the fluoral molecule are similar to those observed in acetaldehyde and biacetyl molecules and differ from the conformational behavior of hexafluorobiacetyl molecule. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 294–299, February, 1998.     

Cis-trans isomerization in the S1 state of acetylene: identification of cis-well vibrational levels

A systematic analysis of the S(1)-trans (A?(1)A(u)) state of acetylene, using IR-UV double resonance along with one-photon fluorescence excitation spectra, has allowed assignment of at least part of every single vibrational state or polyad up to a vibrational energy of 4200 cm(-1). Four observed vibrational levels remain unassigned, for which no place can be found in the level structure of the trans-well. The most prominent of these lies at 46?175 cm(-1). Its (13)C isotope shift, exceptionally long radiative lifetime, unexpected rotational selection rules, and lack of significant Zeeman effect, combined with the fact that no other singlet electronic states are expected at this energy, indicate that it is a vibrational level of the S(1)-cis isomer (A?(1)A(2)). Guided by ab initio calculations [J. H. Baraban, A. R. Beck, A. H. Steeves, J. F. Stanton, and R. W. Field, J. Chem. Phys. 134, 244311 (2011)] of the cis-well vibrational frequencies, the vibrational assignments of these four levels can be established from their vibrational symmetries together with the (13)C isotope shift of the 46?175 cm(-1) level (assigned here as cis-3(1)6(1)). The S(1)-cis zero-point level is deduced to lie near 44?900 cm(-1), and the ν(6) vibrational frequency of the S(1)-cis well is found to be roughly 565 cm(-1); these values are in remarkably good agreement with the results of recent ab initio calculations. The 46?175 cm(-1) vibrational level is found to have a 3.9 cm(-1) staggering of its K-rotational structure as a result of quantum mechanical tunneling through the isomerization barrier. Such tunneling does not give rise to ammonia-type inversion doubling, because the cis and trans isomers are not equivalent; instead the odd-K rotational levels of a given vibrational level are systematically shifted relative to the even-K rotational levels, leading to a staggering of the K-structure. These various observations represent the first definite assignment of an isomer of acetylene that was previously thought to be unobservable, as well as the first high resolution spectroscopic results describing cis-trans isomerization.     

Photochemistry in the electronic ground state. Isotope separation by infrared multiphoton isomerization of complex molecules

Isotope selective isomerization of hexafluorocyclobutene to hexafluorobutadiene by multiphoton absorption of infrared laser light has been studied. All the three possible isotopomers were separated. The wavelength dependence of the reactions, saturation of absorption and the role of inert gas in retaining the selectivity are described.     

Calculation of the absolute infrared intensities for the 0−1, 0−2 and 1−2 vibration-rotation transitions in the ground state of no+

The absolute infrared intensities of the 0?1, 0?2 and 1?2 vibration-rotation bands in the ¹Σ⁺ ground state have been calculated from first principles. The dipole moment function for NO⁺ was determined in the region of the equilibrium internuclear separation by an accurate multi-configuration self-consistent-field procedure. The dipole matrix elements over vibration states were solved exactly using numerical techniques. The ratio of the calculated integrated absorption coefficients for the fundamental and first overtone (88.8 cm^?2 atm^?1 and 0.6 cm^?2 atm^?1, respectively, at 273.16°K) is in reasonable agreement with an estimate based on observation of these bands in NO⁺ at high altitudes in the upper atmosphere.     

A CASSCF/CASPT2 study on the low‐lying electronic states of the CH3SS and its cation

Complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) and multiconfiguration second‐order perturbation theory (CASPT2) calculations with contracted ANO‐RCC basis set were performed for low‐lying electronic states of CH₃SS and its cation in C_s symmetry. For the ground state X²A″ of CH₃SS, the calculated S‐S stretching mode is in good agreement with experimental reports. The electron transitions of CH₃SS⁺, X¹A′ → 1¹A″, X¹A′ → 2¹A′, and X¹A′ → 2¹A″, are predicted at 1.055, 3.247, and 3.841 eV. Moreover, the calculated adiabatic and vertical ionization potential and adiabatic affinity are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data. The CASSCF/CASPT2 potential energy curves (PECs) were calculated for S₂‐loss dissociation from the X²A″, 1²A′, and 2²A″ states. The electronic states of the CH₃ radical and S₂ molecule as the dissociation products were carefully determined by checking energies and geometries of the asymptote products. The S₂‐loss PEC for CH₃SS indicate that S₂‐loss dissociation occurs from the X²A″ state leading to CH₃ (1²A″) + S₂ (X³Σ), the 1²A′ and 2²A″ leading to CH₃ (1²A″) + S₂ (¹Δ_g). © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012.     

The decay from the dark npi* excited state in uracil: an integrated CASPT2/CASSCF and PCM/TD-DFT study in the gas phase and in water

By integrating the results of MS-CASPT2/CASSCF and TD-PBE0 calculations, we propose a mechanism for the decay of the excited dark state in pyrimidine, fully consistent with all the available experimental results. An effective conical intersection (CI-npi) exists between the spectroscopic pi/pi* excited state (Spi) and a dark n/pi* state (Sn), and a fraction of the population decays to the minimum of Sn (Sn-min). The conical intersection between Sn and the ground-state is not involved in the decay mechanism, because of its high energy gap with respect to Sn-min. On the other hand, especially in hydrogen bonding solvents, the energy gap between Sn-min and CI-npi is rather small. After thermalization in Sn-min, the system can thus recross CI-npi and then quickly proceed on the Spi barrierless path toward the conical intersection with the ground state.     

Next-generation quantum theory of atoms in molecules for the S1/S0 conical intersections in dynamics trajectories of a light-driven rotary molecular motor

Next-generation quantum theory of atoms in molecules was applied to analyze, along an entire bond path, intramolecular interactions known to influence the photoisomerization dynamics of a light-driven rotary molecular motor. The 3D bond-path framework set B_0,1 constructed from the least and most preferred directions of electronic motion, provided new insights into the bonding leading to different S₁ state lifetimes including the first quantification of covalent character of a closed-shell intramolecular bond path. We undertook the first use of the stress tensor trajectory T_σ(s) analysis on selected nonadiabatic molecular dynamics trajectories with the electron densities obtained using the ensemble density functional theory method. The stress tensor T_σ(s) analysis was found to be well suited to follow the dynamics trajectories that included the S₀ and S₁ electronic states through the conical intersection and also provided to a new measure to assess the degree of purity of the axial bond rotation for the design of rotary molecular motors.     

A comparative study of the reactions of thiophene-2-carboxanilides and related compounds

Thiophene-2-carboxanilide and itsp-chloro andp-bromo derivatives react with chlorosulfonic acid to give the corresponding sulfonyl chlorides, which react with amino acids to give the respective derivatives. Several methyl esters of the latter were prepared. Hydrazinolysis of these methyl esters yielded the hydrazides. Coupling reactions of some sulfonylamino acids with amino acid methyl ester hydrochlorides in THF-Et₃N medium using the dicyclohexylcarbodiimide method give the corresponding dipeptide methyl esters. The spectral data of the compounds are briefly discussed.Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Al Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. Published in Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 7, pp. 921–926, July, 1998.     

On the mechanism of the cis-trans isomerization in the lowest electronic states of azobenzene: S0, S1, and T1

In this paper, we identify the most efficient decay and isomerization route of the S(1), T(1), and S(0) states of azobenzene. By use of quantum chemical methods, we have searched for the transition states (TS) on the S(1) potential energy surface and for the S(0)/S(1) conical intersections (CIs) that are closer to the minimum energy path on the S(1). We found only one TS, at 60 degrees of CNNC torsion from the E isomer, which requires an activation energy of only 2 kcal/mol. The lowest energy CIs, lying also 2 kcal/mol above the S(1) minimum, were found on the torsion pathway for CNNC angles in the range 95-90 degrees. The lowest CI along the inversion path was found ca. 25 kcal/mol higher than the S(1) minimum and was characterized by a highly asymmetric molecular structure with one NNC angle of 174 degrees. These results indicate that the S(1) state decay involves mainly the torsion route and that the inversion mechanism may play a role only if the molecule is excited with an excess energy of at least 25 kcal/mol with respect to the S(1) minimum of the E isomer. We have calculated the spin-orbit couplings between S(0) and T(1) at several geometries along the CNNC torsion coordinate. These spin-orbit couplings were about 20-30 cm(-)(1) for all the geometries considered. Since the potential energy curves of S(0) and T(1) cross in the region of twisted CNNC angle, these couplings are large enough to ensure that the T(1) lifetime is very short ( approximately 10 ps) and that thermal isomerization can proceed via the nonadiabatic torsion route involving the S(0)-T(1)-S(0) crossing with preexponential factor and activation energy in agreement with the values obtained from kinetic measures.