Rotationally resolved electronic spectroscopy of tryptophol in the gas phase

High resolution S1-S0 fluorescence excitation spectra of tryptophol have been observed in the collision-free environment of a supersonic beam. Each origin band has been assigned to a unique conformer based on its observed rotational constants. Unlike its close relative tryptamine, which exhibits seven distinguishable conformers under similar conditions, tryptophol exhibits only four (GPy-in, GPh-in, and two anti structures). Possible reasons for this difference in behavior are discussed.     

Rotationally resolved spectroscopy of jet-cooled NbMo

Rotationally resolved resonant two-photon ionization spectra of jet-cooled NbMo are reported for the first time. A vibronic spectrum of NbMo was recorded in the 17 300-22 300 cm(-1) spectral region. Although the observed bands could not be grouped into electronic band systems, four excited vibronic levels with Omega=2.5 and two excited levels with Omega=3.5 were identified. The ground state of NbMo has been assigned as (2)Delta(52), deriving from a 1sigma(2)1pi(4)1delta(3)2sigma(2) configuration of the valence electrons. Rotational analysis of six bands provides a ground state rotational constant of B(0) (")=0.087 697(26) cm(-1), corresponding to a bond length of r(0) (")=2.008 09(30) A for (93)Nb(98)Mo. Correction for the effects of the spin-uncoupling operator changes the estimated bond length only slightly to r(0) (")=2.008 02(30) A. The experimentally determined value of r(0) (") is compared to that predicted using previously determined multiple bonding radii of Nb and Mo. A comparison to the known diatomic molecules composed of group V and VI metal atoms is also made.     

Rotationally resolved infrared spectroscopy of adamantane

We present the first rotationally resolved spectra of adamantane (C(10)H(16)) applying gas-phase Fourier transform infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy. High-resolution IR spectra are recorded in the 33-4500 cm(-1)range using as source of IR radiation both synchrotron radiation (at the AILES beamline of the SOLEIL synchrotron) as well as a classical globar. Adamantane is a spherical top molecule with tetrahedral symmetry (T(d) point group) and has no permanent dipole moment in its vibronic ground state. Of the 72 fundamental vibrational modes in adamantane, only 11 are IR active. Here we present rotationally resolved spectra for seven of them: ν(30), ν(28), ν(27), ν(26), ν(25), ν(24), and ν(23). The typical rotational structure of spherical tops is observed and analyzed using the STDS software developed in the Dijon group, which provides the first accurate energy levels and rotational constants for seven fundamental modes. Rotational levels with quantum numbers as high as J = 107 have been identified and included in the fit leading to a typical standard deviation of about 10(-3) cm(-1).     

Rotationally resolved ultraviolet spectra of benzene-noble gas van der Waals clusters

Sub-Doppler electronic spectra with hundreds of resolved rotational lines are now available for benzene-Ar dimers and trimers. From their analysis the structure of these clusters is precisely determined. The analysis of two bands, 6 ₀ ¹ and 16 ₀ ² , of C₆H₆ · Ar is presented in detail. It leads to accurate values of the van der Waals bond length in the electronic ground and excited state. The change in frequency upon clustering is found to be a factor of 17 larger for the overtone of the out-of-plane modev ₁₆ than for the in-plane vibrationv ₁. This can be tentatively explained by an interaction of the low frequency out-of-plane motion of the ring with the van-der-Waals motion of the Ar atom.     

The molecular symmetry and electronic spectroscopy of 7-azaindole dimer: its proton-transfer channels

The potential-energy surfaces for the proton transfer in the doubly hydrogen-bonded dimer of 7-azaindole in its lowest excited electronic states were examined. The dimer with C2h symmetry in its lowest excited electronic states, 2Ag and 1Bu, undergoes concerted double-proton transfer via transition states of the same symmetry placed at energies 4.55 and 4.70 kcal/mol higher, respectively. This suggests that the activation barriers for the double-proton transfer, if any, are lower than 1 kcal/mol. Emission from the dimers resulting from the double-proton transfer involves a Stokes shift of 5605 cm(-1), as theoretically estimated from the 0-0 components of the absortion and emission transitions of the dimer. Surprisingly, however, the calculations suggest that the green emission cannot arise from the 2Ag state generated by a double-proton transfer, because this structure possesses an imaginary frequency. In the 7-azaindole dimer of Cs symmetry, the first excited electronic state, a', lies 4.9 kcal/mol below 1Bu. This excited state a' can be the starting point for single-proton transfers giving a zwitterionic form that can dissociate into the protonated and deprotonated forms of 7-azaindole, the former being electronically excited. This situation of lower symmetry is consistent with the mutational scheme proposed by Goodman [Nature (London) 378, 237 (1995)].     

Electronically excited states of water clusters of 7-azaindole: structures, relative energies, and electronic nature of the excited states

The geometries of 1H-7-azaindole and the 1H-7-azaindole(H(2)O)(1-2) complexes and the respective 7H tautomers in their ground and two lowest electronically excited pi-pi(*) singlet states have been optimized by using the second-order approximated coupled cluster model within the resolution-of-the-identity approximation. Based on these optimized structures, adiabatic excitation spectra were computed by using the combined density functional theory/multireference configuration interaction method. Special attention was paid to comparison of the orientation of transition dipole moments and excited state permanent dipole moments, which can be determined accurately with rotationally resolved electronic Stark spectroscopy. The electronic nature of the lowest excited state is shown to change from L(b) to L(a) upon water complexation.     

Rotationally resolved electronic spectra of 1,2-dimethoxybenzene and the 1,2-dimethoxybenzene-water complex

Rotationally resolved S(1) <-- S(0) electronic spectra of 1,2-dimethoxybenzene (DMB) and its water complex have been observed and assigned. The derived values of the rotational constants show that the bare molecule has a planar heavy-atom structure with trans-disposed methoxy groups in its ground and excited electronic states. The transition of DMB is polarized along the b-axis bisecting the methoxy groups, demonstrating that its S(1) state is an (1)L(b) state. Higher energy bands of DMB are also polarized along the b-axis and have been tentatively assigned to different vibrational modes of the (1)L(b) state. The water complex origin appears 127 cm(-1) to the blue of the bare molecule origin. Analyses of the high resolution spectra of DMB/H(2)O and DMB/D(2)O suggest that the water molecule is attached via two O-H...O hydrogen bonds to the methoxy groups in both electronic states. A tunneling motion of the attached water molecule is revealed by a splitting of these spectra into two subbands. Potential barriers to this motion have been determined.     

Mass analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy of 7-azaindole cation

The vibrationally resolved mass analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectra of jet-cooled 7-azaindole have been recorded by ionizing via four different intermediate levels. The adiabatic ionization energy of this molecule is determined to be 65 462±5 cm⁻¹, which is greater than that of indole by 2871 cm⁻¹. The vibrational spectra of 7-azaindole in the S₁ and D₀ states have been successfully assigned by comparing the measured frequencies with those of indole as well as the predicted values from the ab initio calculations. Detailed analysis on the MATI spectra shows that the structure of the cation is somewhat different from that of this species in the neutral S₁ state.     

Rotationally resolved spectra of jet-cooled VMo

The authors report the first gas-phase spectroscopic investigation of diatomic vanadium molybdenum (VMo). The molecules were produced by laser ablation of a VMo alloy disk and cooled in a helium supersonic expansion. The jet-cooled VMo molecules were studied using resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy. The ground state has been demonstrated to be of (2)Delta(52) symmetry, deriving from the dsigma(2)dpi(4)ddelta(3)ssigma(2) electronic configuration. Rotational analysis has established the ground state bond length and rotational constant as r(0) (")=1.876 57(23) A and B(0) (")=0.142 861(35) cm(-1), respectively, for (51)V(98)Mo (1sigma error limits). Transitions to states with Omega(')=2.5, Omega(')=3.5, and Omega(')=1.5 have been recorded and rotationally analyzed. A band system originating at 15 091 cm(-1) has been found to exhibit a vibrational progression with omega(e) (')=752.7 cm(-1), omega(e) (')x(e) (')=12.8 cm(-1), and r(0) (')=1.90 A for (51)V(98)Mo. The measured bond lengths (r(0)) of V(2), VNb, Nb(2), Cr(2), CrMo, Mo(2), VCr, NbCr, and VMo have been used to derive multiple bonding radii for these elements of r(V)=0.8919 A, r(Nb)=1.0424 A, r(Cr)=0.8440 A, and r(Mo)=0.9725 A. These values reproduce the bond lengths of all nine diatomics to an accuracy of +/-0.012 A or better.     

Rotationally resolved infrared spectroscopy of a jet-cooled phenyl radical in the gas phase

The first high-resolution IR spectra of a jet-cooled phenyl radical are reported, obtained via direct absorption laser spectroscopy in a slit-jet discharge supersonic expansion. The observed A-type band arises from fundamental excitation of the out-of-phase symmetric CH stretch mode (nu19) of b2 symmetry. Unambiguous spectral assignment of the rotational structure to the phenyl radical is facilitated by comparison with precision 2-line combination differences from Fourier transform microwave and direct absorption mm-wave measurements on the ground state [R. J. McMahon et al., Astrophys. J., 2003, 590, L61]. Least-squares fits to an asymmetric top Hamiltonian permit the upper-state rotational constants to be obtained. The corresponding gas-phase vibrational band origin at 3071.8904 (10) cm(-1) is in remarkably good agreement with previous matrix isolation studies [A. V. Friderichsen et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2001, 123, 1977], and indicates only a relatively minor red shift (approximately 0.9 cm(-1)) between the gas and Ar matrix phase environment. Such studies offer considerable promise for further high resolution IR study of other aromatic radical species of particular relevance to combustion phenomena and interstellar chemistry.     

Rotationally resolved spectra of jet-cooled RuSi

We report the first gas-phase spectroscopic investigation of diatomic ruthenium silicide (RuSi). The molecules were produced by laser ablation of a Ru disk into a flow of helium carrier gas containing 0.5% SiH(4), and were cooled in a supersonic expansion. The RuSi molecules were then studied using resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy. Investigations conducted in the spectral range from 18,800 to 23,800 cm(-1) show a large number of excited vibronic levels that cannot readily be grouped into electronic band systems. The ground state is been demonstrated to be of (3)Delta(3) symmetry, deriving from the 2delta(3)14sigma(1) electronic configuration. Correcting for the effects of the spin-uncoupling operator, the ground state bond length (r(0)) is determined to be 2.0921+/-0.0004 A (1sigma error limit). Diatomic RuSi is shown to have strong dpi-ppi bonds, unlike the isovalent AlCo molecule.     

Rotationally resolved PFI-ZEKE photoelectron spectroscopic study of the low-lying electronic states of ArXe(+)

Rotationally resolved pulsed-field-ionization zero-kinetic-energy photoelectron spectra of the X 1/2, A(1) 3/2, and A(2) 1/2 electronic states of the ArXe(+) molecular ion have been recorded following resonant (1+1(')) two-photon excitation via selected rovibrational levels of the C 1 and D 0(+) states of selected isotopomers of the ArXe molecule. Using rovibronic selection and propensity rules for the photoionization out of these intermediate molecular states enabled the determination of the parity of the molecular-ion levels and of the magnitude and sign of the Ω-doubling constants of the coupled X 1/2 (p ≈ 4B) and A(2) 1/2 (p ≈ -2B) states of ArXe(+). The results indicate that these molecular-ion states can be approximately described using Mulliken's second variant of Hund's angular momentum coupling case (c), for which J(a), the total electronic and spin angular momentum of the two atoms, is a good quantum number (semi-united atom). The analysis of the rotational structure enabled the derivation of improved values of the dissociation energies, equilibrium distances, and molecular constants for the X 1/2, A(1) 3/2, and A(2) 1/2 states of ArXe(+).     

7-azaindole derivatives

A new method for synthesizing 5- and 7-azaindoles is given, -Chlorobutyronitrile and malonyl chloride give 2, 4, 6-trichloro-3-(ß-chloroethyl) pyridine, which is cyclized with ammonia to 4, 6-dichloro-7-azaindoline and 4, 6-dichloro-5-azaindoline. 6-Chloro derivatives of 7-azaindolines are not dehydrogenated by chlorainil, but 2, 3-dichloro-S, 6-dicyanobenzoquinone converts them to 6-chloro-7-azaindoles. It is shown that sodium in liquid ammonia is an effective means of dehydrogenating the 5-azaindoline to 5-azaindole. In this case, dehydrogenation of 4, 6-dichloro-7-azaindoline is followed by dehalogenation.For Part IX see [1].     

The electronic structure of free water clusters probed by Auger electron spectroscopy

(H2O)(N) clusters generated in a supersonic expansion source with N approximately 1000 were core ionized by synchrotron radiation, giving rise to core-level photoelectron and Auger electron spectra (AES), free from charging effects. The AES is interpreted as being intermediate between the molecular and solid water spectra showing broadened bands as well as a significant shoulder at high kinetic energy. Qualitative considerations as well as ab initio calculations explain this shoulder to be due to delocalized final states in which the two valence holes are mostly located at different water molecules. The ab initio calculations show that valence hole configurations with both valence holes at the core-ionized water molecule are admixed to these final states and give rise to their intensity in the AES. Density-functional investigations of model systems for the doubly ionized final states--the water dimer and a 20-molecule water cluster--were performed to analyze the localization of the two valence holes in the electronic ground states. Whereas these holes are preferentially located at the same water molecule in the dimer, they are delocalized in the cluster showing a preference of the holes for surface molecules. The calculated double-ionization potential of the cluster (22.1 eV) is in reasonable agreement with the low-energy limit of the delocalized hole shoulder in the AES.     

Excited-state double proton transfer of 7-azaindole in water nanopools

The excited-state proton-transfer dynamics of 7-azaindole occurring in the water nanopools of reverse micelles has been investigated by measuring time-resolved fluorescence spectra and kinetics, as well as static absorption and emission spectra, with varying water content and isotope. 7-Azaindole molecules are found to exist in the bound-water regions of reverse micelles. The rate constant and the kinetic isotope effect of proton transfer are smaller than those in bulk water although both increase with the size of the water nanopool. The retardation of proton transfer in the bound regions is attributed to the increased free energy of prerequisite solvation to form a cyclically H-bonded 1:1 7-azaindole/water complex.     

Rotationally resolved S1-S0 electronic spectra of 2,6-diaminopyridine: a four-fold barrier problem

A comparison of the electronic properties of the nitrogen-containing rings aniline, 2-aminopyridine, and 2,6-diaminopyridine (26DAP) shows that the potential energy surface of the molecule is significantly affected as more nitrogen atoms are added to the system. High resolution, rotationally resolved spectra of four vibrational bands in the S(1)-S(0) electronic transition of 26DAP were obtained in order to explain these changes. The zig-zagging inertial defects point to a double minimum excited state potential energy surface along the coupled amino group inversion vibrational mode, which becomes a four-fold well (and barrier) problem when the existence of two nearly degenerate isomers is taken into account. Assuming that the molecules are in the lower energy, opposite-side configuration, ab initio calculations were performed using the MP2/6-31G** level of theory to create a potential energy surface modeling the simultaneous antisymmetric NH(2)-inversion mode. The calculated potential energy surface shows a ground electronic state barrier to simultaneous NH(2) inversion of ~220 cm(-1), and a fit to experimental vibrational energy level spacings and relative intensities produces an excited electronic state barrier of ~400 cm(-1). The ground state barrier is less than that in aniline, but the excited state barrier is larger.     

Rotationally resolved electronic spectra of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene. A "floppy" molecule in the gas phase

Rotationally resolved fluorescence excitation spectra of several bands in the S1<--S0 electronic spectrum of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (DHPH) have been observed and assigned. Each band was fit using rigid rotor Hamiltonians in both electronic states. Analyses of these data reveal that DHPH has a nonplanar configuration in its S0 state with a dihedral angle between the aromatic rings (phi) of approximately 21.5 degrees. The data also show that excitation of DHPH with UV light results in a more planar structure of the molecule in the electronically excited state, with phi approximately 8.5 degrees. Three prominent Franck-Condon progressions appear in the low resolution spectrum, all with fundamental frequencies lying below 300 cm(-1). Estimates of the potential energy surfaces along each of these coordinates have been obtained from analyses of the high resolution spectra. The remaining barrier to planarity in the S1 state is estimated to be approximately 2650 cm(-1) along the bridge deformation mode and is substantially reduced by excitation of the molecule along the (orthogonal) ring twisting coordinate.     

Excited electronic states of small water clusters

The lowest electronic states that are initially formed upon excitation of small water clusters having a central water molecule with one stretched OH bond are studied with electronic structure methods. It is found that in water dimer, trimer, and pentamer the lowest excited singlet and triplet states are each nondissociative for stretching of an OH bond that is hydrogen bonded in an icelike configuration to a neighboring water molecule. This is in marked contrast to the behavior of an isolated gas phase water monomer, where it is well known that the lowest excited state is strongly dissociative upon OH stretching. The conclusions of this study may serve as a basis to interpret recent experimental evidence that suggests a significant lifetime for excited water in irradiated thin ice films, and may also have important implications for the behavior of excitation of liquid water.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of size-selected sodium-doped water clusters

The vibrational OH stretch spectra have been measured for Na(H2O)n clusters in the size range from n = 8 to 60. The complete size selection is achieved by coupling the UV radiation of a dye laser below the ionization threshold with the tunable IR radiation of an optical parametric oscillator. The spectra are dominated by intensity peaks around 3400 cm(-1) which we attribute to an increased transition dipole moment of delocalized electrons in this type of doped cluster. Aside from the positions of free (3715 cm(-1)) and double donor (3560 cm(-1)) bonds which are known from pure water clusters, specific transitions are observed at 3640 cm(-1) and in the range of the single donor bonds between 3000 and 3200 cm(-1).     

Laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy of a mixed dimer between 2-pyridone and 7-azaindole

We report here the laser induced fluorescence excitation (FE) and dispersed fluorescence (DF) spectra of a 1:1 mixed dimer between 7-azaindole (7AI) and 2-pyridone (2PY) measured in a supersonic free jet expansion of helium. Density functional theoretical calculation at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level has been performed for predictions of the dimer geometry and normal mode vibrational frequencies in the ground electronic state. A planar doubly hydrogen-bonded structure has been predicted to be the most preferred geometry of the dimer. In the FE spectrum, sharp vibronic bands are observed only for excitation of the 2PY moiety. A large number of low-frequency vibronic bands show up in both the FE and DF spectra, and those bands have been assigned to in-plane hydrogen bond vibrations of the dimer. Spectral analyses reveal Duschinsky-type mixing among those modes in the excited state. No distinct vibronic band structure in the FE spectrum was observed corresponding to excitations of the 7AI moiety, and the observation has been explained in terms of nonradiative electronic relaxation routes involving the 2PY moiety.