Resonance Raman intensity analysis of chlorine dioxide dissolved in chloroform: The role of nonpolar solvation

Abstract

Absolute resonance Raman cross sections for chlorine dioxide (OClO) dissolved in chloroform are obtained at several excitation wavelengths spanning the photochemically relevant B12–A22 optical transition. The absolute scattering cross sections of OClO are determined by reference to the 666 cm−1 transition of chloroform whose absolute scattering cross sections are reported here. The time-dependent theory for Raman and absorption are used to develop a mode-specific description of the A22 excited state surface. This description demonstrates that photoexcitation of OClO leads to significant structural evolution along the symmetric stretch and bend coordinates, with only limited evolution occurring along the asymmetric stretch. This description is similar to that determined for OClO dissolved in cyclohexane and water demonstrating that the excited-state structural evolution of OClO is similar in these solvents. Analysis of the OClO absolute scattering cross sections establishes that the homogeneous linewidth is 95±15 cm−1 in chloroform, essentially identical to the linewidths in cyclohexane and water. To establish the origin of this linewidth, the fluorescence cross section for OClO dissolved in cyclohexane is measured and found to be consistent with an excited-state lifetime of ∼200 fs. Comparison of this lifetime to the homogeneous linewidth establishes that the homogeneous broadening is dominated by solvent-induced pure dephasing. It is proposed that the apparent solvent independence of the homogeneous linewidth reflects the mechanical response of the solvent to the photoinitiated change in solute geometry. In support of this hypothesis, the homogeneous linewidth is reproduced using the viscoelastic continuum model of nonpolar solvation. Finally, it is argued that the restricted evolution along the asymmetric-stretch coordinate is due to dielectric solvent–solute interactions consistent with the increase in inhomogeneous linewidth with an increase in solvent polarity.