Triplet states via intermediate neglect of differential overlap: Benzene, pyridine and the diazines

Abstract

The intermediate neglect of differential overlap technique is modified and applied to the calculation of excited triplet states. The resulting method generally reproduces the transition energies of the better-classified observations within a rms error of 1000 cm−1. Trends are well reproduced, and the calculated orders ofn-π* and π-π* triplet states are in good accord with the experimental information to date. The method is applied to benzene and the azines. The lowest four triplet states of benzene are calculated in good accord with experiment. Pyridine is calculated to have an-π* triplet nearly degenerate with the lowest lying π-π* triplet, corroborating suggestions of Japar and Ramsay based on experimental information. A detailed analysis is made of the diazines, and assignments are suggested for the higher lying triplet states not yet classified or not yet observed.