Theoretical study on the mechanism for the excited-state double proton transfer process of an asymmetric Schiff base ligand

Abstract

Excited-state double proton transfer (ESDPT) in the 1-[(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzylidene)-hydrazonomethyl]-naphthalen-2-ol (HYDRAVH2) ligand was studied by the density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory method. The analysis of frontier molecular orbitals, infrared spectra, and non-covalent interactions have cross-validated that the asymmetric structure has an influence on the proton transfer, which makes the proton transfer ability of the two hydrogen protons different. The potential energy surfaces in both S0 and S1 states were scanned with varying O–H bond lengths. The results of potential energy surface analysis adequately proved that the HYDRAVH2 can undergo the ESDPT process in the S1 state and the double proton transfer process is a stepwise proton transfer mechanism. Our work can pave the way towards the design and synthesis of new molecules.