Elaborating the excited state behavior of 2‐(4′‐N,N‐dimethylaminophenyl)‐imidazo[4,5‐c]pyridine coupling with methanol solvent

We present a theoretical investigation about the excited state dynamical mechanism of 2‐(4′‐N,N‐dimethylaminophenyl)‐imidazo[4,5‐c]pyridine (DMAPIP‐c). Within the framework of density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory methods, we reasonably repeat the experimental electronic spectra, which further confirm the theoretical level used in this work is feasible. Given the best complex model, 3 methanol (MeOH) solvent molecules should be connected with DMAPIP‐c forming DMAPIP‐c‐MeOH complex in both ground state and excited state. Exploring the changes about bond lengths and bond angles involved in hydrogen bond wires, we find the O7‐H8···N9 one should be largely strengthened in the S₁ state, which plays an important role in facilitating the excited state intermolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. In addition, the analyses about infrared vibrational spectra also confirm this conclusion. The redistribution about charges distinguished via frontier molecular orbitals based on the photoexcitation, we do find tendency of ESIPT reaction due to the most charges located around N9 atom in the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital. Based on constructing the potential energy curves of both S₀ and S₁ states, we not only confirm that the ESIPT process should firstly occur along with hydrogen bond wire O7‐H8···N9, but also find a low potential energy barrier 8.898 kcal/mol supports the ESIPT reaction in the S₁ state forming DMAPIP‐c‐MeOH‐PT configuration. Subsequently, DMAPIP‐c‐MeOH‐PT could twist its dimethylamino moiety with a lower barrier 3.475 kcal/mol forming DMAPIP‐c‐MeOH‐PT‐TICT structure. Our work not only successfully explains previous experimental work but also paves the way for the further applications about DMAPIP‐c sensor in future.     

A theoretical study on the ESPT mechanism for a novel Bis‐HPBT fluorophore

In this work, based on the density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory methods, the properties of the 2 intramolecular hydrogen bonds (O1‐H2···N3 and O4‐H5···N6) of a new photochemical sensor 4‐(3‐(benzo[d]thiazol‐2‐yl)‐5‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxybenzyl)‐2‐(benzo[d]thiazol‐2‐yl)‐6‐tert‐butyl phenol (Bis‐HPBT) have been investigated in detail. The calculated dominating bond lengths and bond angles about these 2 hydrogen bonds (O1‐H2···N3 and O4‐H5···N6) demonstrate that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds should be strengthened in the S₁ state. In addition, the variations of hydrogen bonds of Bis‐HPBT have been also testified based on infrared vibrational spectra. Our theoretical results reproduced absorption and emission spectra of the experiment, which verifies that the theoretical level we used is reasonable and effective in this work. Further, hydrogen bonding strengthening manifests the tendency of excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. Frontier molecular orbitals depict the nature of electronically excited state and support the ESIPT reaction. According to the calculated results of potential energy curves along stepwise and synergetic O1‐H2 and O4‐H5 coordinates, the potential energy barrier of approximately 1.399 kcal/mol is discovered in the S₁ state, which supports the single ESIPT process along with 1 hydrogen bond of Bis‐HPBT. In other words, the proton transfer reaction can be facilitated based on the electronic excitation effectively. In turn, through the process of radiative transition, the proton‐transfer Bis‐HPBT‐SPT form regresses to the ground state with the fluorescence of 539 nm.     

Theoretical investigation on the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer mechanism of 2‐(2′‐benzofuryl)‐3‐hydroxychromone

Spectroscopic studies on excited‐state proton transfer of a new chromophore 2‐(2′‐benzofuryl)‐3‐hydroxychromone (BFHC) have been reported recently. In the present work, based on the time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT), the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) of BFHC is investigated theoretically. The calculated primary bond lengths and angles involved in hydrogen bond demonstrate that the intramolecular hydrogen bond is strengthened. In addition, the phenomenon of hydrogen bond reinforce has also been testified based on infrared (IR) vibrational spectra as well as the calculated hydrogen bonding energies. Further, hydrogen bonding strengthening manifests the tendency of excited state proton transfer. Our calculated results reproduced absorbance and fluorescence emission spectra of experiment, which verifies that the TD‐DFT theory we used is reasonable and effective. The calculated Frontier Molecular Orbitals (MOs) further demonstrate that the excited state proton transfer is likely to occur. According to the calculated results of potential energy curves along O―H coordinate, the potential energy barrier of about 14.5 kcal/mol is discovered in the S₀ state. However, a lower potential energy barrier of 5.4 kcal/mol is found in the S₁ state, which demonstrates that the proton transfer process is more likely to happen in the S₁ state than the S₀ state. In other words, the proton transfer reaction can be facilitated based on the photo‐excitation effectively. Moreover, the phenomenon of fluorescence quenching could be explained based on the ESIPT mechanism. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical insight into the excited‐state behavior of a novel Compound 1: A TDDFT investigation

In the present work, using density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory methods, we investigated and presented the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanisms of a novel Compound 1 theoretically. Analyses of electrostatic potential surfaces and reduced density gradient (RDG) versus sign(λ₂)ρ, we confirm the existence of intramolecular hydrogen bond O1‐H2···N3 for Compound 1 in the S₀ state. Comparing the primary structural variations of Compound 1 involved in the intramolecular hydrogen bond, we find that O1‐H2···N3 should be strengthened in the S₁ state, which may facilitate the ESIPT process. Concomitantly, infrared (IR) vibrational spectra analyses further verify the stability of hydrogen bond. In addition, the role of charge transfer interaction has been addressed under the frontier molecular orbitals, which depicts the nature of electronical excited state and supports the ESIPT reaction. The theoretically scanned and optimized potential energy curves according to variational O1‐H2 coordinate demonstrate that the proton transfer process should occur spontaneously in the S₁ state. It further explains why the emission peak of Compound 1‐enol was not reported in previous experiment. This work not only presents the ESIPT mechanism of Compound 1 but also promotes the understanding of this kind of molecules for further applications in future.     

A detailed DFT/TDDFT study on excited‐state intramolecular hydrogen bonding dynamics and proton‐transfer mechanism of 2‐phenanthro[9,10‐d]oxazol‐2‐yl‐phenol

In this present work, using density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory methods, we theoretically study the excited‐state hydrogen bonding dynamics and the excited state intramolecular proton transfer mechanism of a new 2‐phenanthro[9,10‐d]oxazol‐2‐yl‐phenol (2PYP) system. Via exploring the reduced density gradient versus sign(λ₂(r))ρ(r), we affirm that the intramolecular hydrogen bond O1‐H2?N3 is formed in the ground state. Based on photoexcitation, comparing bond lengths, bond angles, and infrared vibrational spectra involved in hydrogen bond, we confirm that the hydrogen bond O1‐H2?N3 of 2PYP should be strengthened in the S₁ state. Analyses about frontier molecular orbitals prove that charge redistribution of 2PYP facilitates excited state intramolecular proton transfer process. Via constructing potential energy curves and searching transition state structure, we clarify the excited state intramolecular proton transfer mechanism of 2PYP in detail, which may make contributions for the applications of such kinds of system in future.     

A theoretical assignment on excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer mechanism for quercetin

In the present work, we investigate a new chromophore (ie, quercetin) (Simkovitch et al J Phys Chem B 119 [2015] 10244) about its complex excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process based on density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory methods. On the basis of the calculation of electron density ρ( r ) and Laplacian ?²ρ( r ) at the bond critical point using atoms‐in‐molecule theory, the intramolecular hydrogen bonds (O₁‐H₂?O₅ and O₃‐H₄?O₅) have been supported to be formed in the S₀ state. Comparing the prime structural variations of quercetin involved in its 2 intramolecular hydrogen bonds, we find that these 2 hydrogen bonds should be strengthened in the S₁ state, which is a fundamental precondition for facilitating the ESIPT process. Concomitantly, infrared vibrational spectra analysis further verifies this viewpoint. In good agreement with previous experimental spectra results, we find that quercetin reveals 2 kinds of excited‐state structures (quercetin* and quercetin‐PT1*) in the S₁ state. Frontier molecular orbitals depict the nature of electronically excited state and support the ESIPT reaction. Our scanned potential energy curves according to variational O₁‐H₂ and O₃‐H₄ coordinates demonstrate that the proton transfer process should be more likely to occur in the S₁ state via hydrogen bond wire O₁‐H₂?O₅ rather than O₃‐H₄?O₅ because of the lower potential energy barrier 2.3 kcal/mol. Our present work explains previous experimental result and makes up the deficiency of mechanism in previous experiment. In the end, we make a reasonable assignment for ESIPT process of quercetin.     

The ESIPT mechanism of dibenzimidazolo diimine sensor: a detailed TDDFT study

Spectroscopic investigations on excited state proton transfer of a new dibenzimidazolo diimine sensor (DDS) were reported by Goswami et al. recently. In our present work, based on the time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism of DDS is studied theoretically. Our calculated results reproduced absorption and fluorescence emission spectra of the previous experiment, which verifies that the TDDFT method we adopted is reasonable and effective. The calculated dominating bond lengths and bond angles involved in hydrogen bond demonstrate that the intramolecular hydrogen bond is strengthened. In addition, the phenomenon of hydrogen bond reinforce has also been testified based on infrared vibrational spectra. Further, hydrogen bonding strengthening manifests the tendency of ESIPT process. The calculated frontier molecular orbitals further demonstrate that the excited state proton transfer is likely to occur. According to the calculated results of potential energy curves along O–H coordinate, the potential energy barrier of about 5.02 kcal/mol is discovered in the S₀ state. However, a lower potential energy barrier of 0.195 kcal/mol is found in the S₁ state, which demonstrates that the proton transfer process is more likely to happen in the S₁ state than the S₀ state. In other words, the proton transfer reaction can be facilitated based on the photo‐excitation effectively. Moreover, the phenomenon of fluorescence quenching could be explained based on the ESIPT mechanism. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solvent controlling excited state proton transfer reaction in quinoline/isoquinoline‐pyrazole isomer QP‐I: A theoretical study

In this present work, we theoretically study the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism about a quinoline/isoquinoline‐pyrazole isomer QP‐I system. Compared with previous experimental results, our calculated results reappear previous data, which further confirm the theoretical level we used is reasonable. We mainly adopt 2 kinds of solvents (nonpolar cyclohexane and polar acetonitrile) to explore solvents effects on this system. Through reduced density gradient (RDG) function, the intramolecular hydrogen bond N1─H2···N3 has been confirmed existing in both S₀ and S₁ states, although the distance between H2 and N3 is not short. In addition, the strengthening N1─H2···N3 in the S₁ state provides possibility for ESIPT. Explorations about charge redistribution reveal the trend of ESIPT, and frontier orbital gap reflects the reactivity in polar and nonpolar solvents. The constructing potential energy curves reveal that potential energy barriers could be controlled and regulated by solvent polarity.     

A theoretical investigation about sensing mechanism of fluoride anion for (E)‐2‐(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)‐6‐(4‐hydroxystyryl)‐1H‐benzo[de]‐isoquinoline‐1,3 (2H)‐dione

In the present work, we theoretical study the sensing mechanism of a new fluoride chemosensor (E)‐2‐(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)‐6‐(4‐hydroxystyryl)‐1H‐benzo[de]‐isoquinoline‐1,3(2H)‐dione (the abbreviation is NIM ). Based on density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory methods, the fluoride anion response mechanism has been confirmed via constructing potential energy curve. The exothermal deprotonation process along with the intermolecular hydrogen bond O–H···F reveals the uniqueness of detecting F^?. After capturing hydrogen proton forming NIM‐A anion configuration, a new absorption peak around 655 nm appears in dimethyl sulfoxide solvent. In addition, the emission of NIM can be quenched when adding F^? has been also confirmed. Due to the twisted intramolecular charge transfer character NIM‐A‐S ₁ form, we further verify the experimental phenomenon. The theoretical electronic spectra (vertical excitation energies and fluorescence peak) reproduced previous experimental results (ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2014, 6, 7996), which not only reveals the rationality of our theoretical level used in this work but also confirms the correctness of geometrical attribution. In view of the excitation process, the strong intramolecular charge transfer process of S₀ → S₁ transition explain the redshift of absorption peak for NIM with the addition of fluoride anion. This work presents a straightforward sensing mechanism (deprotonation process) of fluoride anion for the novel NIM chemosensor.     

TD-DFT investigation of the potential energy surface for Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT) reaction of 10-hydroxybenzo[h]quinoline: Topological (AIM) and population (NBO) analysis of the intramolecular hydrogen bonding interaction

Here, we report a Density Functional Theoretical (DFT) study on the photophysics of a potent Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT) molecular system, viz., 10-hydroxybenzo[h]quinoline (HBQ). Particular emphasis has been rendered on the assessment of the proton transfer reaction in HBQ in the ground and excited-states through elucidation and a careful perusal of the potential energy surfaces (PES). The non-viability of Ground-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (GSIPT) process is dictated by a high-energy barrier coupled with no energy minimum for the proton transferred (K-form) form at the ground-state (S₀) PES. Remarkable reduction of the barrier along with thermodynamic stability inversion between the enol (E-form) and the keto forms (K-form) of HBQ upon photoexcitation from S₀ to the S₁-state advocate for the operation of ESIPT process. These findings have been cross-validated on the lexicon of analysis of optimized geometry parameters, Mulliken’s charge distribution on the heavy atoms, and molecular orbitals (MO) of the E- and the K-forms of HBQ. Our computational results also corroborate to experimental observations. From the modulations in optimized geometry parameters in course of the PT process a critical assessment has been endeavoured to delve into the movement of the proton during the process. Additional stress has been placed on the analysis of the intramolecular hydrogen bonding (IMHB) interaction in HBQ. The IMHB interaction has been explored by calculation of electron density ρ(r) and the Laplacian ∇²ρ(r) at the bond critical point (BCP) using Atoms-In-Molecule (AIM) method and by calculation of interaction between σ? of OH with the lone pair of the nitrogen atom using Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis.     

Thermolysis and photolysis of 2‐ethyl‐4‐nitro‐1(2H)‐isoquinolinium hydroperoxide

The thermal and light‐induced O ? O bond breaking of 2‐ethyl‐4‐nitro‐1(2H)‐isoquinolinium hydroperoxide (IQOOH) were studied using ¹H NMR, steady‐state UV/vis spectroscopy, femtosecond UV/vis transient absorption (fs TA) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TD DFT) calculations. Thermal O ? O bond breaking occurs at room temperature to generate water and the corresponding amide. The rate of this reaction, k = 5.4 · 10^?6 s^?1, is higher than the analogous rates of simple alkyl and aryl hydroperoxides; however, the rate significantly decreases in the presence of small amounts of methanol. The calculated structure of the transition state suggests that the thermolysis is facilitated by a 1,2 proton shift. The photochemical process yields the same products, as confirmed using NMR and UV/vis spectroscopy. However, the quantum yield for the photolysis is low (Φ = 0.7%). Fs TA studies provide additional detail of the photochemical process and suggest that the S₁ state of IQOOH undergoes fast internal conversion to the ground state, and this process competes with the excited‐state O ? O bond breaking. This result was supported by the fact that the model compound IQOH exhibits similar excited‐state decay lifetimes as IQOOH, which is assigned to the S₁ → S₀ internal conversion. Copyright © 2013 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.     

Theoretical insight into the excited‐state proton transfer process: Role of the substituent ‐CN on HBT system

In this work, using density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory methods, we theoretically studied the excited‐state behaviors of 3 novel 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole (HBT) derivatives (HBT‐H‐H, HBT‐CN‐H, and HBT‐CN‐CN). Analyses about primary chemical structures such as bond lengths and bond angles, we found that all the intramolecular hydrogen bonds in these 3 structures should be strengthened in the S₁ state upon the photoexcitation. Exploring the infrared vibrational spectra at the hydrogen bonds groups, we confirmed that nonsubstitutional HBT‐H‐H structure might play more important roles in the excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction than HBT‐CN‐H and HBT‐CN‐CN. Further, investigating vertical excitation process, it can be revealed that charge redistribution involved in hydrogen bonding moieties could facilitate the ESIPT reaction. Based on constructing potential energy curves of both S₀ and S₁ states, we confirmed that the substituents on HBT systems can reasonably regulate and control the ESIPT processes because of the different potential energy barriers. We deem that this present work not only elaborates the different excited‐state behaviors of HBT‐H‐H, HBT‐CN‐H, and HBT‐CN‐CN but also may play important roles in designing and developing new materials and applications involved in HBT systems in future.     

1,5‐electrocyclization versus 1,5‐proton shift in imidazolium allylides and 2‐phospha‐allylides: a DFT investigation

The competitive 1,5‐electrocyclization versus intramolecular 1,5‐proton shift in imidazolium allylides and imidazolium 2‐phosphaallylides has been investigated theoretically at the DFT (B3LYP/6‐311 + +G**//B3LYP/6‐31G**) level. 1,5‐Electrocyclization follows pericyclic mechanism and its activation barrier is lower than that for the pseudopericyclic mechanism by ～5–6 kcal mol^?1. The activation barriers for 1,5‐electrocyclization of imidazolium 2‐phosphaallylides are found to be smaller than those for their nonphosphorus analogues by ～3–5 kcal mol^?1. There appears to be a good correlation between the activation barrier for intramolecular 1,5‐proton shift and the density of the negative charge at C8, except for the ylides having fluorine substituent at this position ( 7b and 8b ). The presence of fluorine atom reduces the density of the negative charge at C8 (in 7b it becomes positively charged) and thus raises the activation barrier. The ylides 7f and 8f having CF₃ group at C8, in preference to the 1,5‐proton shift, follow an alternative route leading to different carbenes which is accompanied by the loss of HF. The carbenes Pr _{7 , 8b – e} resulting from intramolecular 1,5‐proton shift have a strong tendency to undergo intramolecular S_N2 type reaction, the activation barrier being 7–28 kcal mol^?1. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaction pathway and H/D kinetic isotope effects of the triple proton transfer in a 7‐hydroxyquinoline‐methanol complex in the ground state: A computational approach

Multiple proton transfer (PT) is an essential process in long‐range proton transport such as proton relay in enzymes. 7‐Hydroxyquinoline (7HQ) undergoes alcohol‐mediated PT in both the excited and ground states, and this system has been investigated as a biomimetic model. In the present study, the reaction pathway of triple PT in a 7HQ‐methanol cluster, 7HQ·(MeOH)₂, in the ground state has been investigated using density functional theory calculations to clarify the reaction mechanism and the origin of the experimentally observed kinetic isotope effect (KIE). The PT takes place in an asynchronous concerted fashion, in which the oxygen atom in 7HQ first accepts a proton from the directly hydrogen‐bonded MeOH. The rate constants and primary H/D KIEs have been estimated with canonical variational transition state theory in combination with the small curvature tunneling approximation. The tunneling effect on the PT rate is significant, and the KIE is much greater than 1 at room temperature. The rule of the geometric mean for the KIEs breaks down because of the asynchronicity in the motions of 3 protons and tunneling effect. In addition, the rate constant is smaller, the KIE is larger, and the activation energy is higher compared with the experimental values in heptane solution, suggesting that the PT dynamics in solution is governed by not only the intrinsic PT process but also thermal fluctuation of the solute and solvent molecules, which plays an important role in the configurational change of the 7HQ·(MeOH)₂ complex.     

TDDFT study on the excited‐state hydrogen bonding of N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐1,8‐naphthalimide and N‐(3‐hydroxyethyl)‐1,8‐naphthalimide in methanol solution

The time‐dependent density functional theory method was performed to investigate the excited‐state hydrogen‐bonding dynamics of N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐1,8‐naphthalimide (2a) and N‐(3‐hydroxyethyl)‐1,8‐naphthalimide (3a) in methanol (meoh) solution. The ground and excited‐state geometry optimizations, electronic excitation energies, and corresponding oscillation strengths of the low‐lying electronically excited states for the complexes 2a + 2meoh and 3a + 2meoh as well as their monomers 2a and 3a were calculated by density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory methods, respectively. We demonstrated that the three intermolecular hydrogen bonds of 2a + 2meoh and 3a + 2meoh are strengthened after excitation to the S₁ state, and thus induce electronic spectral redshift. Moreover, the electronic excitation energies of the hydrogen‐bonded complexes in S₁ state are correspondingly decreased compared with those of their corresponding monomer 2a and 3a. In addition, the intramolecular charge transfer of the S₁ state for complexes 2a + 2meoh and 3a + 2meoh were theoretically investigated by analysis of molecular orbital. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Excited state proton transfer and internal conversion in o-hydroxybenzaldehyde: new insights from non-adiabatic ab initio molecular dynamics

A recently developed non-adiabatic ab initio molecular dynamics method coupling the S₁ excited electronic state to the ground state by a surface hopping technique has been applied to study photoexcited o-hydroxybenzaldehyde. Vertical excitation of the enol tautomer to the π π* state leads to spontaneous proton transfer (PT) and thus formation of the keto tautomer. The PT process has been found to be entirely driven by the breathing mode of the H-chelate ring. In fact, there exists no barrier for PT in the S₁ state. Non-radiative decay of the π π* excited keto tautomer through internal conversion (IC) is observed on a picosecond time scale. The probability for a non-adiabatic surface hop from the S₁ state back to the ground state is seen to be correlated to the chelate ring breathing mode and to the temporal changes in the methoxy OH bond length. There are indications of an increased IC rate associated with the initial PT event.     

Excited‐state deactivation channels via internal conversions in two position isomers of hydroxy‐methyl‐pyridine: a theoretical study

Two position isomers of hydroxy‐methyl‐pyridine (3‐hydroxy‐2‐methyl‐pyridine and 2‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐pyridine) were studied theoretically at the BLYP level of theory in order to find mechanisms explaining the excited‐state deactivations of isomers through ring puckering and “ethylene‐like” conical intersections. The study aims also to clarify the mechanisms of the ground‐state proton transfers. Three conical intersections S₀/S₁ for each isomer were found, which are accessible through the ¹ππ* excited states. In both isomers, there is a ¹ππ* excited‐state reaction path, which leads, in a completely barrierless manner, to the one of the conical intersections S₀/S₁. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

黄芩素激发态分子内质子转移耦合电荷转移反应的实验和理论研究

通过稳态光谱实验和量子化学计算相结合,研究了黄芩素激发态质子转移耦合电荷转移的反应. 实验和计算中S₁态吸收峰的缺失表明S₁态是暗态. S₁暗态导致在实验中观察不到黄芩素在乙醇溶液中的荧光峰,且固体的荧光峰很弱. 黄芩素分子的前线分子轨道和电荷差异密度表明S₁态是电荷转移态,然而S₂态是局域激发态. 计算的黄芩素分子的势能曲线在激发态只有一个稳定点,这表明了黄芩素激发态分子内质子转移的过程是一个无     

The photochemistry of the self‐healing chromophore Disperse Orange 11

Recent interest in the self‐healing ability of the laser dye 1‐amino‐2‐methylanthraquinone, Disperse Orange 11, has lead us to investigate the possible alternative mechanisms of action, either intramolecular proton transfer (PT) or twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) formation. AMPAC semiempirical PM3 CI (all single excited configurations) potential energy surfaces searches have been conducted with either reaction mechanism. Based purely on the potential energy surface results, no state, S0, T1, or S1, seems especially likely to be kinetically favorable for PT. The T1 state is favorable thermodynamically for PT. However, the S1 state TICT reaction is both thermodynamically favorable and kinetically preferred over all PT reactions. There is also a favorable T1 TICT reaction, but much slower kinetically on the triplet surface than S1 TICT. The Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB) method has been used to ascertain proton tunneling contributions to PT. Even with proton tunneling, S1 TICT is still more highly favored, though proton tunneling could make the T1 PT reaction competitive depending on the rate of intersystem crossing. We also examine spectroscopic properties of PT transfer and TICT reaction path entities in comparison with published experimental evidence. However, this comparison leads to ambiguous findings that suggest that electronic spectral properties alone will not fully clarify the mechanism. Overall, results suggest that the TICT mechanism is the most likely for optical damage and self‐repair for Disperse Orange 11, and might be considered for the damage and repair mechanisms for other organic solid state laser materials. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.