Multireference Ab Initio Density Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG)-CASSCF and DMRG-CASPT2 Study on the Photochromic Ring Opening of Spiropyran.

Abstract

The photochromic ring-opening reaction of spiropyran has been revisited at the multireference CASSCF and CASPT2 level with a CAS(22e,20o) active space, in combination with density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) methods. The accuracy of the DMRG-CASSCF and DMRG-CASPT2 calculations, with respect to the number of renormalized states, the number of roots in state-averaged wave functions, and the number basis functions, was examined. For the current system, chemically accurate results can be obtained with a relatively small number of renormalized states. The nature and vertical excitation energies of the excited (S1 and S2) states are consistent with conventional CAS(or RAS)PT2 with medium active spaces. The capability of the DMRG-CASSCF method in the optimization of molecular geometry is demonstrated for the first time. The computation costs (several hours per optimization cycle) are comparable with that of the conventional CASSCF geometry optimization with small active space. Finally, the DMRG-PT2 computed S1-MEP for the C-O and C-N bond-cleavage processes show good agreement with our previous calculations with a CAS(12e,10o) active space [Liu, F.; Morokuma, K. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 10693-10702]. Especially, the role of the HOOP valleys in the S1 → S0 nonadiabatic decay has been confirmed.