Solvent Effects on Ground and Excited Electronic State Structures of the Push-Pull Chromophore Julolidinyl-n-N,N‘-diethylthiobarbituric Acid

Abstract

Resonance Raman spectra and cross sections of a “push−pull” chromophore containing a julolidine donor and a thiobarbituric acid acceptor have been measured in dilute solution in five solvents having a wide range of polarities (cyclohexane, 1,4-dioxane, dichloromethane, acetonitrile, and methanol) at excitation wavelengths spanning the strong visible charge-transfer absorption band. The absolute Raman excitation profiles and absorption spectra are simulated using time-dependent wave packet propagation techniques to determine the excited-state geometry changes along the ∼30 Raman-active vibrations as well as the solvent reorganization energies. Several vibrational modes undergo significant (5−15 cm-1) frequency changes as the solvent is varied, signaling solvent polarity effects on the ground-state electronic structure. The excited-state geometry changes are solvent dependent for some vibrational modes but not for others. The total vibrational reorganization energy decreases, and the solvent reorganization ...