Time-resolved photoelectron imaging of S2 → S1 internal conversion in benzene and toluene

Ultrafast internal conversion of benzene and toluene from the S(2) states was studied by time-resolved photoelectron imaging with a time resolution of 22 fs. Time-energy maps of the photoelectron intensity and the angular anisotropy were generated from a series of photoelectron images. The photoelectron kinetic energy distribution exhibits a rapid energy shift and intensity revival, which indicates nuclear motion on the S(2) adiabatic surface, while the ultrafast evolution of the angular anisotropy revealed a change in the electronic character of the S(2) adiabatic surface. From their decay profiles of the total photoelectron intensity, the time constants of 48 ± 4 and 62 ± 4 fs were determined for the population decay from the S(2) states in benzene and toluene, respectively.     

Time-resolved Laue diffraction of excited species at atomic resolution: 100 ps single-pulse diffraction of the excited state of the organometallic complex Rh2(μ-PNP)2(PNP)2·BPh4

The polychromatic Laue technique has been applied in 100 ps delay synchrotron pump-probe experiments of the triplet excited state of a Rh(I) dinuclear complex. The observed contraction of the Rh-Rh distance of 0.154 (13) ? is less than predicted by a series of theoretical calculations, a difference attributed to the constraining effect of the crystal lattice.     

Radiationless decay of excited states of tetrahydrocannabinol through the S 1–S 0 (conical) intersection

The ground and electronically excited singlet states of tetrahydrocannabinol have been studied theoretically using density functional and time-dependent density functional methods. The vertical excitation energies, the equilibrium geometries as well as the adiabatic excitation energies have been determined. Opening of the six-membered ring between the oxygen and carbon atoms has been considered as photochemical reaction path. This mechanism leads to a typical excited-state intramolecular hydrogen-transfer process and produces low-lying S ₀–S ₁ intersection (possible conical intersection, CI) which provides a channel for effective radiationless deactivation of the electronically excited state.     

Synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet radiation studies of the D (1)Π(u) state of H(2)

The 3pπD?(1)Π(u) state of the H(2) molecule was reinvestigated with different techniques at two synchrotron installations. The Fourier transform spectrometer in the vacuum ultraviolet wavelength range of the DESIRS beamline at the SOLEIL synchrotron was used for recording absorption spectra of the D?(1)Π(u) state at high resolution and high absolute accuracy, limited only by the Doppler contribution at 100 K. From these measurements, line positions were extracted, in particular, for the narrow resonances involving (1)Π(u) (-) states, with an accuracy estimated at 0.06?cm(-1). The new data also closely match multichannel quantum defect calculations performed for the Π(-) components observed via the narrow Q-lines. The Λ-doubling in the D?(1)Π(u) state was determined up to v=17. The 10 m normal incidence scanning monochromator at the beamline U125/2 of the BESSY II synchrotron, combined with a home-built target chamber and equipped with a variety of detectors, was used to unravel information on ionization, dissociation, and intramolecular fluorescence decay for the D?(1)Π(u) vibrational series. The combined results yield accurate information on the characteristic Beutler-Fano profiles associated with the strongly predissociated Π(u) (+) parity components of the D?(1)Π(u) levels. Values for the parameters describing the predissociation width as well as the Fano-q line shape parameters for the J=1 and J=2 rotational states were determined for the sequence of vibrational quantum numbers up to v=17.     

Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy of low-energy excitations of 4×4 C60/Cu(111)

Time-resolved two-photon photoemission is applied to investigate electron dynamics in multiple monolayers (MLs) of ordered fullerite on a copper substrate. The experimental data are analyzed assuming coupled excited state dynamics. Rate equations fitted to these dynamics yield lifetimes of about 80 ps for the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), about 1.2 ns for the singlet exciton and 22 μs for the triplet exciton at a surface temperature of 140 K. For trapped triplet excitons lifetimes up to 200 μs are observed. An increased excitation fluence reduces the lifetime of the excitons due to annihilation. An increased sample temperature slightly reduces the lifetime of the triplet exciton. There is no evident dependence of the exciton lifetimes on the pump photon energy in the range of hν = 2.9 to 3.3 eV. A dependence on the layer thickness (10-20 ML) is not observed as long as more than 9 ML are prepared.     

Ultrafast excited state dynamics of spirilloxanthin in solution and bound to core antenna complexes: Identification of the S∗ and T(1) states

Ultrafast excited state dynamics of spirilloxanthin in solution and bound to the light-harvesting core antenna complexes from Rhodospirillum rubrum S1 were investigated by means of femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopic measurements. The previously proposed S? state of spirilloxanthin was clearly observed both in solution and bound to the light-harvesting core antenna complexes, while the lowest triplet excited state appeared only with spirilloxanthin bound to the protein complexes. Ultrafast formation of triplet spirilloxanthin bound to the protein complexes was observed upon excitation of either spirilloxanthin or bacteriochlorophyll-a. The anomalous reaction of the ultrafast triplet formation is discussed in terms of ultrafast energy transfer between spirilloxanthin and bacteriochlorophyll-a.     

Investigation on the electronically excited state properties of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MDDA) in solution

Since their discovery by Iijima in 1991, carbon nanotubes have inspired considerable research inter-ests worldwide because of their unique structure to-gether with electric, magnetic, thermal conductivity and mechanical properties[1]. Apart from the hexag…     

Pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect as the origin of the exalted frequency of the b2u Kekulé mode in the 1(1)B2u excited state of benzene

In this paper we show that a pseudo-Jahn-Teller (PJT) coupling between the (1)A1g ground state and the (1)B2u excited states along the Kekulé mode of b2u symmetry is responsible for the surprisingly low frequency of this mode in the ground state and its remarkable upward shift of 261 cm(-1) upon excitation to the first (1)B2u excited state.     

Global potential energy surface, vibrational spectrum, and reaction dynamics of the first excited (Ã (2)A(')) state of HO(2)

The authors report extensive high-level ab initio studies of the first excited (A??(2)A(')) state of HO(2). A global potential energy surface (PES) was developed by spline-fitting 17?000 ab initio points at the internal contracted multireference configuration interaction (icMRCI) level with the AVQZ basis set. To ascertain the spectroscopic accuracy of the PES, the near-equilibrium region of the molecule was also investigated using three interpolating moving least-squares-based PESs employing dynamically weighted icMRCI methods in the complete basis set limit. Vibrational energy levels on all four surfaces agree well with each other and a new assignment of some vibrational features is proposed. In addition, the dynamics of both the forward and reverse directions of the H+O(2)(a??(1)Δ(g))?OH+O reaction (J=0) were studied using an exact wave packet method. The reactions are found to be dominated by sharp resonances.     

Rotational spectrum of SiC2 in the ν3 excited state

The rotational spectra of SiC₂ in the vibrationally excited states of the ring deformation mode (υ₃ = 1, 2) were observed in the frequency region of 140–400 GHz by using a source-modulated microwave spectrometer combined with a free space absorption cell. SiC₂ was produced in the cell by discharging a mixture of SiH₄, C₂H₂ and CO. Least-squares analysis of the observed spectral lines yielded the rotational constants and the centrifugal distortion constants precisely. Sextic, octic and decatic centrifugal distortion constants were required in the least-squares fit in order to get a good fit of the observed frequencies to those calculated within experimental errors. The inertial defects for the υ₃ = 1 state and the υ₃ = 2 state do not show a linear dependence on the vibrational quantum number. The quartic centrifugal distortion constants, Δ_JK, Δ_K and δ_K, are abnormally large, and show a large change on the vibrational states. These abnormal behaviours are interpreted in terms of a large amplitude motion of the ν₃ mode.     

The emission spectrum of the 1B1(π*-n+) state of 1,2-cyclobutanedione excited at 488.0 nm

The spectrum of the emission from the ¹B₁(π^*-n₊) state of 1,2-cyclobutanedione excited at 488.0 nm has been measured. Wavelengths and vibrational assignments are reported for 24 bands between 490 and 550 nm, 12 of which can be identified with hot bands in the absorption spectrum. Prominent bands in the emission spectrum are associated with excitation of V^''₈, the symmetric in-plane carbonyl bend (281 cm⁻¹); v^''₁₂, the asymmetric carbonyl wag (488 cm⁻¹); and v^''₇, a symmetric ring distortion (522 cm⁻¹). Sequences in v₁₃, the ring-twisting vibration, are also prominent; the initial excitation lies in the 13³₃ absorption band, while the emission shows intensity maxima for v^'₁₃ = 0 and 2, and a bimodal vibrational relaxation is suggested.     

Density and temperature dependence of the relaxation of the 1Δg state of highly compressed O2 fluid

The electronic relaxation of O₂ is investigated by an absorption excitation and fluorescence detection technique. The relaxation rate constant of O₂(¹Δ_g) is measured in the density range from 10²¹ to 3 × 10²² cm⁻³ at temperatures between 90 and 295 K. The experimental results are compared with theoretical models based on the pair distribution functions of the fluid. The effects of intermolecular potentials with hard or soft cores are discussed.     

On the charge-transfer electronic configurations of excited 1,1′-dinaphthylamine

In this work, the detailed calculations (including AM1 optimization with configuration interaction) of the ground and excited state conformations of the 1,1′-dinaphtylamine molecule have been combined with the classically treated solvation process. It was discovered that the solvent-assisted relaxation process of the excited molecule involves changes in molecular conformations and this results in the formation of twisted conformers with moderate dipole moment in the excited state. The additional result of such conformational changes is a large repulsion geometry in the corresponding Franck-Condon ground state. Summation of these two effects leads to a very good agreement between the results of calculations and the experimental data.     

Observation of ultrafast NH3 (Ã) state relaxation dynamics using a combination of time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and photoproduct detection

The ultrafast excited state relaxation of ammonia is investigated by resonantly exciting specific vibrational modes of the electronically excited NH(3) (?) state using three complementary femtosecond (fs) pump-probe techniques: time-resolved photoelectron, ion-yield and photofragment translational spectroscopy. Ammonia can be seen as a prototypical system for studying non-adiabatic dynamics and therefore offers a benchmark species for demonstrating the advantages of combining the aforementioned techniques to probe excited state dynamics, whilst simultaneously illuminating new aspects of ammonia's photochemistry. Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TRPES) provides direct spectroscopic evidence of σ* mediated relaxation of the NH(3) (?) state which manifests itself as coupling of the umbrella (ν(2)) and symmetric N-H stretch (ν(1)) modes in the photoelectron spectra. Time-resolved ion yield (TRIY) and time-resolved photofragment translation spectroscopy (TRPTS) grant a measure of the dissociation dynamics through analysis of the H and NH(2) photodissociation co-fragments. Initial vibrational level dependent TRIY measurements reveal photoproduct formation times of between 190 and 230 fs. Measurement of H-atom photoproduct kinetic energies enables investigation into the competition between adiabatic and non-adiabatic dissociation channels at the NH(3) (?)/NH(3) (X?) conical intersection and has shown that upon non-adiabatic dissociation into NH(2) (X?) + H, the NH(2) (X[combining tilde]) fragment is predominantly generated with significant fractions of internal vibrational energy.     

Time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence of the iodine B3π(0u+) state: Study of the second maximum of predissociation

Fluorescence decay lifetimes for specific rovibrational levels of the I₂ B³π(0_u⁺) state, have been obtained by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence. Gyroscopic and hyperfine predissociation parameters C_v² and a_v², for vibrational levels of the B³π(0_u⁺) state around the second maximum of predissociation, v' = 24, 25, have been determined. Results are discussed in terms of the dependence of the predissociation paramaters on the Franck-Condon densities and the corresponding electronic matrix elements.     

Characterization of the potential minimum of the F '0(u)(+)(1D2) ion-pair state of Cl2 using (1 + 2') optical-optical double resonance excitation and mass-resolved ion detection

Vibrational levels of the F(')0(u)(+)((1)D(2)), F0(u)(+)((3)P(0)), and D0(u)(+)((3)P(2)) ion-pair states of (35)Cl(2) and (35)Cl(37)Cl in the range 62,500-67,600 cm(-1) have been observed using (1 + 2(')) optical-optical double resonance excitation with mass-resolved ion detection. The strong F(')0(u)(+)((1)D(2))/F0(u)(+)((3)P(0)) coupling has been modelled by a coupled two-state calculation. An optimized fit of the experimental data used an F(')0(u)(+)((1)D(2)) state potential with a T(e) of 65,177 cm(-1) and an R(e) of ≈2.636 ? with a coupling constant of ≈430 cm(-1). The calculation assigns the first observed members of the F(')0(u)(+)((1)D(2)) state progression of (35)Cl(2) and (35)Cl(37)Cl at 64,998 and 65,094 cm(-1), respectively, as transitions to v = 0.     

Stereochemistry of the asymmetric reduction of (1′s)-1,3-dimethyl-4(1′-phenylethylimino)piperidine

The stereochemistry of the asymmetric reduction of the imine obtained from 1,3-dimethylpiperidin-4-one and (S)--phenylethylamine has been studied. It is shown that hydride reduction of imine 1 by sodium borohydride in methanol is asymmetric and gives the cis and trans diastereomeric pair 1,3-dimethyl-4-(-phenyl-ethylamino) piperidine in the ratio 3:1. Using sodium in isopropanol gives only one trans diastereomeric pair.¹H NMR has been used to identify the stereochemical structure and diastereomer excess of the cis and trans isomers of 1,3-dimethyl-4-(-phenylethylamino)piperidine which had been separated by column chromatography.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 219–221, February, 1996.     

Cl calculation of the (6p)−1 photoelectron spectrum of francium

The (6p)⁻¹ photoelectron spectrum of francium is calculated by a relativistic Cl model limited to the quasi-degenerate configurations. Compared to cesium a sudden drop in intensity of the correlation peaks is obtained, and is interpreted as due to removal of the degeneracy by the increased spin-orbit coupling.     

Solvent interactions in the excited state of non-planar donor—acceptor molecules

In order to probe solute—solvent interactions in the intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state of 2,6,N,N-tetramethylcyanoaniline (TMCA) fluorescence spectra, quantum yields and lifetimes of this compound were measured in binary mixtures of n-hexane with chlorinated hydrocarbons. An isoemissive point in the fluorescence spectra was observed as the composition of the solvent was varied. Evidence for both clustering of polar solvent molecules around the excited solute and for non-specific long-range interactions with the polar bulk of the solution was found. The properties of the solvent affect primarily the efficiency of non-radiative deactivation. Fluorescence quenching by saturated amines gives good evidence that TMCA emission arises from a highly polar state in both polar and non-polar solutions.