The electronic structure of all-trans-polyenes C2nH2n+2, n = 3–7

The electronic structure of the C_2nH_2n+2 trans-polyenes, n = 3–7, is calculated by the Discrete Variational X_α method (DVM -X_α). The valence ionization potentials (IP ) calculated using the Clementi double zeta basis agree with the known experimental data within several tenths an electron volt. However, the DVM energies of the π → π* optical excitations are systematically underestimated by 0.8–1.0 eV. For polyenes with equal C—C bond lengths, the computed energies of the first optical transitions are smaller than those of polyenes with alternating C—C bond lengths. The charge distribution in polyenes is analyzed in the framework of a Mulliken scheme. The composition of the frontier molecular orbitals (MO ) is analyzed.