QM/MM Study on Mechanistic Photophysics of Alloxazine Chromophore in Aqueous Solution.

Abstract

Compared with isoalloxazine, the core chromophore of biologically important flavins, alloxazine exhibits much lower fluorescence quantum yield and larger intersystem-crossing quantum yield. However, its efficient radiationless relaxation pathways are still elusive. In this work, we have used the QM(MS-CASPT2//CASSCF)/MM method to explore the mechanistic photophysics of alloxazine chromophore in aqueous solution. On the basis of the optimized minima, conical intersections, and crossing points in the lowest (1)ππ*, (1)nπ*, (3)ππ*, and (3)nπ* states, we have proposed three energetically possible nonadiabatic relaxation pathways populating the lowest (3)ππ* triplet state from the initially populated excited (1)ππ* singlet state. The first is the direct (1)ππ*→ (3)ππ* intersystem crossing via the (1)ππ*/(3)ππ* crossing point. The second is an indirect (1)ππ* → (3)ππ* intersystem crossing relayed by the dark (1)nπ* singlet state. In this route, the (1)ππ* system first decays to the (1)nπ* state via the (1)ππ*/(1)nπ* conical intersection, followed by an (1)nπ*→ (3)ππ* intersystem crossing at the (1)nπ*/(3)ππ* crossing point to arrive at the final (3)ππ* state. The third is similar to the second one; but its intersystem crossing is relayed by the (3)nπ* triplet state. The (1)ππ* system first decays to the (3)nπ* state via the (1)ππ*/(3)nπ* crossing point; the generated (3)nπ* state is then de-excited to the (3)ππ* state through the (3)nπ*→ (3)ππ* internal conversion at the (3)nπ*/(3)ππ* conical intersection. According to the classical El-Sayed rule, we suggest the second and third paths play a much more important role than the first one in the formation of the lowest (3)ππ* state.