Ground State Potential Energy Surface Research Articles

Comparison of some multireference electronic structure methods in illustrative applications

The performances of several multireference electronic structure methods including complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF)-based second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2), multireference configuration interaction with single and double excitations (MR-CISD), MR-CISD with the Davidson correction (MR-CISD+Q), and the CASSCF-based block-correlated coupled cluster method (CAS-BCCC4) we developed recently are compared by applying them to study several different chemical problems involving computation of ground state potential energy surfaces, the singlet-triplet gaps in diradicals, reaction barriers, and the excitation energies of low-lying excited states. Comparison with the results from other highly accurate theoretical methods or the available experimental data demonstrate that for all the problems studied, the overall performance of CAS-BCCC4 is competitive with that of MR-CISD+Q, and better than that of CASPT2 and MR-CISD methods. Thus the CAS-BCCC4 approach is expected to be a promising theoretical method for quantitative descriptions of the electronic structures of molecules with noticeable multireference character.

Unusual Relaxation Pathway from the Two-Photon Excited First Singlet State of Carotenoids

Transient infrared and visible absorption measurements along with density functional theory (DFT) calculations on carotenoids 8'-apo-beta-caroten-8'-al (I) and 7',7'-dicyano-7'-apo-beta-carotene (II) were used to explore the nature of a long-lived species observed in transient infrared absorption measurements following two-photon excitation (Pang et al. J. Phys. Chem. B 2009, 113, 13806). The long-lived species of I has a very strong infrared absorption around 1510 cm(-1) and a visible transient absorption band centered at 760 nm. The long-lived species appears on two different time scales of approximately 16 and 140-270 ps. The longer rise component is absent in nonpolar solvents. DFT calculations using the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G(d) basis set were used to investigate the ground-state potential-energy surface of I and II including its conformational isomers, a pi-diradical "kinked" structure, and cation and neutral radicals. From the simulated infrared spectra of all the structures considered, we found a close match in the cation radical spectrum to the experimental infrared spectrum of the long-lived species. However, the visible absorption band does not match that of the monomeric cation radical. On the basis of our experimental and theoretical results, we propose a charge-transfer complex between a carotenoid and a solvent molecule for the origin of the long-lived species formed from the direct two-photon excitation of the S(1) state.

Bisthienylethenes Containing a Benzothiadiazole Unit as a Bridge: Photochromic Performance Dependence on Substitution Position

A conveniently synthesized photochromic compound, BTB-1, containing an unprecedented six-membered 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole unit as the center ethene bridge, possesses good photochromic performance, with a high cyclization quantum yield and moderate fatigue resistance in solution or an organogel system. The fluorescence of BTB-1 can be modulated by solvato- and photochromism. However, the analogue BTB-2, in which the dimethylthiophene substituents are relocated to the 5,6-positions of benzothiadiazole, does not show any detectable photochromism. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of six-membered bridge bisthienylethenes (BTEs) in which the photochromism can be controlled by the substitution position. The photochromism difference is elucidated by the analysis of resonance structure, the Woodward-Hoffmann rule, and theoretical calculations on the ground-state potential-energy surface. In a well-ordered single-crystal state, BTB-1 adopts a relatively rare parallel conformation, and forms an interesting two-dimensional structure due to the presence of multiple directional intermolecular interactions, including C--HN and C--HS hydrogen-bonding interactions, and pi-pi stacking interactions. This work contributes to several aspects for developing novel photochromic BTE systems with fluorescence modulation and performances controlled by substitution position in different states (solution, organogel, and single crystal).

Probing E/Z Isomerization on the C10H8 Potential Energy Surface with Ultraviolet Population Transfer Spectroscopy

The excited-state dynamics of phenylvinylacetylene (1-phenyl-1-buten-3-yne, PVA) have been studied using laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet depletion spectroscopy, and the newly developed method of ultraviolet population transfer spectroscopy. Both isomers of PVA (E and Z) show a substantial loss in fluorescence intensity as a function of excitation energy. This loss in fluorescence was shown to be due to the turn-on of a nonradiative process by comparison of the laser-induced fluorescence spectrum to the ultraviolet depletion spectrum of each isomer, with a threshold 600 cm(-1) above the electronic origin in Z-PVA and 1000 cm(-1) above the electronic origin in E-PVA. Ab initio and density functional theory calculations have been used to show that the most likely source of the nonradiative process is from the interaction of the pi pi* state with a close lying pi sigma* state whose minimum energy structure is bent along the terminal CCH group. Ultraviolet population transfer spectroscopy has been used to probe the extent to which excited-state isomerization is facilitated by the interaction with the pi sigma* state. In ultraviolet population transfer spectroscopy, each isomer was selectively excited to vibronic levels in the S(1) state with energies above and below the threshold for fluorescence quenching. The ultraviolet-excited populations are then recooled to the zero point levels using a reaction tube designed to constrain the supersonic expansion and increase the collision cooling capacity of the expansion. The new isomeric distribution was detected in a downstream position using resonant-2-photon ionization spectroscopy. From these spectra, relative isomerization quantum yields were calculated as a function of excitation energy. While the fluorescence quantum yield drops by a factor of 50-100, the isomerization quantum yields remain essentially constant, implying that the nonradiative process does not directly involve isomerization. On this basis, we postulate that isomerization occurs on the ground-state potential energy surface after internal conversion. In these experiments, the isomerization to naphthalene was not observed, implying a competition between isomerization and cooling on the ground-state potential energy surface.

Theoretical investigation of the reactions of La atom and La+ cation with carbonyl sulfide

The potential energy surfaces for the La+SCO and La++ SCO reactions have been theoretically investigated by using the DFT (B3LYP/ECP/6-311+G(2d)) level of theory. Both ground and excited state potential energy surfaces (PES) are discussed. The present results show that the reaction mechanism is insertion mechanism both along the C-S and C-O bond activation branches, but the C-S bond activation is much more favorable in energy than the C-O bond activation. The reaction of La atom with SCO was shown to occur preferentially on the ground state (doublet) PES throughout the reaction process, and the experimentally observed species, have been explained according to the mechanisms revealed in this work. While for the reaction between La+ cation with SCO, it involves potential energy curve-crossing which dramatically affects reaction mechanism, and the crossing points (CPs) have been localized by the approach suggested by Yoshizawa et al. Due to the intersystem crossing existing in the reaction process of La+ with SCO, the products SLa+(η2CO) and OLa+(η2CS) may not form. This mechanism is different from that of La + SCO system. All our theoretical results not only support the existing conclusions inferred from early experiment, but also complement the pathway and mechanism for this reaction.

Coherent ultrafast torsional motion and isomerization of a biomimetic dipolar photoswitch

Femtosecond fluorescence up-conversion, UV-Vis and IR transient absorption spectroscopy are used to study the photo-isomerization dynamics of a new type of zwitterionic photoswitch based on a N-alkylated indanylidene pyrroline Schiff base framework (ZW-NAIP). The system is biomimetic, as it mimics the photophysics of retinal, in coupling excited state charge translocation and isomerization. While the fluorescence lifetime is 140 fs, excited state absorption persists over 230 fs in the form of a vibrational wavepacket according to twisting of the isomerizing double bond. After a short "dark" time window in the UV-visible spectra, which we associate with the passage through a conical intersection (CI), the wavepacket appears on the ground state potential energy surface, as evidenced by the transient mid-IR data. This allows for a precise timing of the photoreaction all the way from the initial Franck-Condon region, through the CI and into both ground state isomers, until incoherent vibrational relaxation dominates the dynamics. The photo-reaction dynamics remarkably follow those observed for retinal in rhodopsin, with the additional benefit that in ZW-NAIP the conformational change reverses the zwitterion dipole moment direction. Last, the pronounced low-frequency coherences make these molecules ideal systems for investigating wavepacket dynamics in the vicinity of a CI and for coherent control experiments.

Structural and Relaxation Effects in Proton Wire Energetics: Model Studies of the Green Fluorescent Protein Photocycle

We present the results of a systematic series of constrained minimum energy pathway calculations on ground state potential energy surfaces, for a cluster model of the proton chain transfer that mediates the photocycle of the green fluorescent protein, as well as for a model including the solvated protein environment. The calculations vary in terms of the types of modes that are assumed to be capable of relaxing in concert with the movement of the protons and the results demonstrate that the nature and extent of dynamical relaxation has a substantive impact on the activation energy for the proton transfer. We discuss the implications of this in terms of currently available dynamical models and chemical rate theories that might be brought to bear on the kinetics of this important example of proton chain transfer in a biological system.

Trends in MH2n+ ion–quadrupole complexes (M = Li, Be, Na, Mg, K, Ca; n = 1, 2) using ab initio methods

The ground state potential energy surfaces (PESs) of MH(2)(n+) (M = Li, Be, Na, Mg, K, Ca; n = 1, 2) have been investigated using relativistically corrected, coupled-cluster (CC) and multi-reference configuration interaction (MRCI) methods. The PESs for MH(2)(+) (M = Li, Na, K) and MH(2)(n+) (M = Be, Mg, Ca; n = 1, 2) exhibit global minima corresponding to C(2v) symmetry equilibrium structures, with local minima for D(∞h) and C(∞v) symmetry states. Conversely, the ground state PESs of LiH(2)(2+), NaH(2)(2+) and KH(2)(2+) are repulsive. In all cases, the D(∞h) states resulting from the insertion of M(n+) into the H(2) moiety were significantly higher in energy than the co-linear C(2v) states. It is generally assumed a priori that these species are the result of the interaction between the metal ion charge state and the quadrupole moment of the H(2) moiety. However, analysis of the functional ΔΘ(αα)(R(M(n+)-H(2))) = Θ(αα)(MH(2)(n+)) - Θ(αα)(M(n+)) (which is effectively the difference between traceless quadrupole moments (Θ(αα)) of MH(2)(n+) and the isolated M(n+) ion computed using MRCI) as a function of M(n+)-H(2) distance demonstrates that a local maximum in ΔΘ(αα) along the molecular C(2) axis is necessary for the formation of a thermodynamically stable complex. It is concluded that the topology of ΔΘ(αα) provides a convenient indicator of the stability of such molecular ion-quadrupole complexes.

Dynamics of multi-channel dissociation of tetrahydrofuran photoexcited at 193 nm: distributions of kinetic energy, angular anisotropies and branching ratios

We investigated the photodissociation dynamics of tetrahydrofuran (c-C(4)H(8)O) at 193.3 nm in a molecular-beam apparatus using photofragment-translational spectroscopy and direct vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization. Five dissociation channels leading to products with m/z ratios appropriate for CH(2)CH(2)CH(2) + H(2)CO, CH(2)CHCH(2) + CH(2)OH, H + CH(2)CH(2) + CH(2)CHO, CH(2)CH(2) + CH(3) + HCO and CH(2)CH(2) + CH(2)CO + H(2) were identified; their branching ratios were determined to be 0.40, 0.25, 0.04 0.29 and 0.02, respectively. Secondary dissociations from nascent products CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)CHO to CH(2)CH(2) + CH(2)CHO and from CH(2)CH(2)O to CH(3) + HCO and likely to CH(2)CO + H(2) were observed. We measured distributions of product kinetic energy, average kinetic-energy release, and fractions in translation for each dissociation channel. The formation of CH(2)CHCH(2) + CH(2)OH indicates that hydrogen migration occurs before complete fragmentation. All photofragments have nearly isotropic angular distributions, with |beta| values less than 0.05. The photodissociation of tetrahydrofuran into five channels is proposed to proceed mainly on the ground state potential-energy surface following ring opening and efficient internal conversions.

Comparison of the non-radiative decay mechanisms of 4-pyrimidinone and uracil: an ab initio study

We performed a comparative theoretical study of the relaxation mechanisms of the excited states of uracil and 4-pyrimidinone with the CASSCF, CASPT2, and CC2 ab initio methods. The calculated vertical excitation energies agree with the experimental UV absorption maxima of the two compounds. Three low-lying conical intersections between the S(0) and S(1) states (one for uracil, two for 4-pyrimidinone) are established. They are accessible from the Franck-Condon region of the 1pipi* state through out-of-plane deformations related to C=C (for uracil) or C=N (for 4-pyrimidinone) torsions of the heterocyclic ring. These conical intersections mediate the radiationless deactivation of the compounds after excitation of the lowest 1pipi* state. The relaxation of the 1pipi* state of 4-pyrimidinone via C=C twisting is hindered by a barrier. The relaxed scan of the C=N double-bond twisting of 4-pyrimidinone indicates that the formation of the Dewar form may represent a photochemical channel in 4-pyrimidinone. This fact is detrimental for the photostability of 4-pyrimidinone, since the Dewar form is separated by a high potential-energy barrier from the canonical form of 4-pyrimidinone on the ground-state potential-energy surface, which prevents a thermal back-reaction. The investigation of the vertical excitation energies and the reaction paths shows that 4-pyrimidinone is less photostable than uracil.

CARBON DIOXIDE ACTIVATION BY Y ATOM AND Y+ CATION IN THE GAS PHASE: A DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORETICAL STUDY

ABSTRACT The potential energy surfaces for the Y+CO 2 and Y + +CO 2 reactions have been investigated by using the DFT (B3LYP/ECP/6−311+G*) level of theory. Both ground and excited state potential energy surfaces are discussed. The present results show that the reaction mechanism is an insertion mechanism along the C−O bond activation branch. The reaction of Y atom with CO 2 was shown to occur preferentially on the doublet PES throughout the reaction process. As for the reaction between Y + cation with CO 2 , it involves potential energy curve-crossing which dramatically affects reaction mechanism. Due to the intersystem crossing existing in the reaction process of Y + with CO 2 , the intermediate (OY(η 2 CO)) + may not form. This mechanism is different from that of Y + CO 2 system. All our theoretical results not only support the existing conclusions inferred from early experiment, but also complement the pathway and mechanism for this reaction. Keywords: DFT theory, Potential energy surface, Intersystem, Yttrium

Observation and control of coherent torsional dynamics in a quinquethiophene molecule

By applying femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy to a substituted quinquethiophene molecule in solution, we observe in the time domain the coherent torsional dynamics that drives planarization of the excited state. Our interpretation is based on numerical modeling of the ground and excited state potential energy surfaces and simulation of wavepacket dynamics, which reveals two symmetric excited state deactivation pathways per oscillation period. We use the acquired knowledge on torsional dynamics to coherently control the excited state population with a pump-dump scheme, exploiting the non-stationary Franck-Condon overlap between ground and excited states.

Photophysical and structural properties of the fluorescent nucleobase analogues of the tricyclic cytosine (tC) family

Fundamental insight into the unique fluorescence and nucleobase-mimicking properties of the fluorescent nucleobase analogues of the tC family is not only vital in explaining the behaviour of these probes in nucleic acid environments, but will also be profitable in the development of new and improved fluorescent base analogues. Here, temperature-dependent fluorescence quantum yield measurements are used to successfully separate and quantify the temperature-dependent and temperature-independent non-radiative excited-state decay processes of the three nucleobase analogues tC, tC(O) and tC(nitro); all of which are derivatives of a phenothiazine or phenoxazine tricyclic framework. These results strongly suggest that the non-radiative decay process dominating the fast deactivation of tC(nitro) is an internal conversion of a different origin than the decay pathways of tC and tC(O). tC(nitro) is reported to be fluorescent only in less dipolar solvents at room temperature, which is explained by an increase in excited-state dipole moment along the main non-radiative decay pathway, a suggestion that applies in the photophysical discussion of large polycyclic nitroaromatics in general. New insight into the ground and excited-state potential energy surfaces of the isolated tC bases is obtained by means of high level DFT and TDDFT calculations. The S(0) potential energy surfaces of tC and tC(nitro) possess two global minima corresponding to geometries folded along the middle sulfur-nitrogen axis separated by an energy barrier of 0.05 eV as calculated at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p) level. The ground-state potential energy surface of tC(O) is also predicted to be shallow along the bending coordinate but with an equilibrium geometry corresponding to the planar conformation of the tricyclic framework, which may explain some of the dissimilar properties of tC and tC(O) in various confined (biological) environments. The S(1) equilibrium geometries of all three base analogues are predicted to be planar. These results are discussed in the context of the tC bases positioned in double-stranded DNA scenarios.

State-selective spectroscopy of water up to its first dissociation limit

A joint experimental and first-principles quantum chemical study of the vibration-rotation states of the water molecule up to its first dissociation limit is presented. Triple-resonance, quantum state-selective spectroscopy is used to probe the entire ladder of water's stretching vibrations up to 19 quanta of OH stretch, the last stretching state below dissociation. A new ground state potential energy surface of water is calculated using a large basis set and an all-electron, multireference configuration interaction procedure, which is augmented by relativistic corrections and fitted to a flexible functional form appropriate for a dissociating system. Variational nuclear motion calculations on this surface are used to give vibrational assignments. A total of 44 new vibrational states and 366 rotation-vibration energy levels are characterized; these span the region from 35,508 to 41,126 cm(-1) above the vibrational ground state.

On the maximum in the differential cross sections of the F + H2 reaction in the region of small scattering angles

By means of quantum mechanical simulation of the reaction F + H2(v = 0; j = 0, 1, 2) → H + HF(v′, j′) on the Stark-Werner ground state potential energy surface at collision energies of 1.84, 2.74, and 3.42 kcal/mol, we have analyzed interference of the “partial waves” corresponding to different values of the total angular momentum J. As the vibrational quantum number v′ of the HF(v′, j′) product increases, the interference for the HF forward scattering becomes noticeably more constructive. This is probably the reason for the maximum in the angular distributions of the HF(v′= 3) molecules at small scattering angles that was discovered experimentally by D.M. Neumark, A.M. Wodtke, G.N. Robinson, C.C. Hayden, and Y.T. Lee, J. Chem. Phys. 82 (7), 3045 (1985) at the same collision energies. We have also determined the intervals of J values most effective for forward scattering of the HF(v′, j′) molecules.

Mid-Infrared Picosecond Pump−Dump−Probe and Pump−Repump-Probe Experiments to Resolve a Ground-State Intermediate in Cyanobacterial Phytochrome Cph1

Multipulse picosecond mid-infrared spectroscopy has been used to study photochemical reactions of the cyanobacterial phytochrome photoreceptor Cph1. Different photophysical schemes have been discussed in the literature to describe the pathways after photoexcitation, particularly, to identify reaction phases that are linked to photoisomerisation and electronic decay in the 1566-1772 cm(-1) region that probes C=C and C=O stretching modes of the tetrapyrrole chromophore. Here, multipulse spectroscopy is employed, where, compared to conventional visible pump-mid-infrared probe spectroscopy, an additional visible pulse is incorporated that interacts with populations that are evolving on the excited- and ground-state potential energy surfaces. The time delays between the pump and the dump pulse are chosen such that the dump pulse interacts with different phases in the reaction process. The pump and dump pulses are at the same wavelength, 640 nm, and are resonant with the Pr ground state as well as with the excited state and intermediates. Because the dump pulse additionally pumps the remaining, partially recovered, and partially oriented ground-state population, theory is developed for estimating the fraction of excited-state molecules. The calculations take into account the model-dependent ground-state recovery fraction, the angular dependence of the population transfer resulting from the finite bleach that occurs with linearly polarized intense femtosecond optical excitation, and the partially oriented population for the dump field. Distinct differences between the results from the experiments that use a 1 or a 14 ps dump time favor a branching evolution from S1 to an excited state or reconfigured chromophore and to a newly identified ground-state intermediate (GSI). Optical dumping at 1 ps shows the instantaneous induced absorption of a delocalized C=C stretching mode at 1608 cm(-1), where the increased cross section is associated with the electronic ground-state structure of the ZZZ configuration of the linear tetrapyrrole chromophore. The dump-induced absorption decays with time constants of 5 and 19 ps to the Pr ground state. Employing a dump pulse at 14 ps results in an instantaneous decrease of the absorption of the 1608 cm(-1) band, indicating repumping of the GSI. The dump-induced absorption recovers back to the GSI with a 6 ps lifetime. A spectral similarity is observed between the 6 ps phase in the dump experiment and the 3 ps component found in the two-pulse pump-probe measurement. Combined with the dominance of ground-state absorption bands in the dump-induced spectrum, this indicates the presence of a GSI, which is additionally characterized by previously unidentified induced absorption at 1710 and 1570-80 cm(-1). The metastable photoproduct Lumi-R, which is in the electronic ground state and populated at 500 ps after excitation of Pr, is highly efficiently repumped into the Pr ground state with the power density used. After repumping, Lumi-R is not recovered on the 500 ps time scale of the experiment and is distinct from the GSI of Pr since it is not associated with its characteristic induced absorption at 1710 and 1570-80 cm(-1).

Theoretical study of the competitive decomposition and isomerization of 1-hexyl radical

The ground-state potential energy surface of the 1-hexyl system, including the main decomposition and isomerization processes, has been calculated with the MPW1K, BB1K, MPWB1K, MPW1B95, BMK, M05-2X and CBS-QB3 methods. On the basis of these data, thermal rate coefficients of different reaction channels and branching ratios were then calculated using the master equation formulation at 250–2,500 K. The results clearly point out that the 1,5 H atom transfer reaction of 1-hexyl radical with exothermicity proceeds through the lowest reaction barrier, whereas the decomposition processes are thermodynamically unfavorable with large endothermicity. The temperature effect is important on the relative importance of different reactions in the 1-hexyl system. In the low-temperature range of 250–900 K, isomerization reactions, especially 1,5 H atom transfer reaction of 1-hexyl radical, are dominating and responsible for over 82.17% of all the reactions, due to their smaller reaction barriers than those of the decomposition reactions. Furthermore, an equilibrium process involving the isomeric forms of the hexyl radicals appearing at relative low temperature was validated theoretically. However, isomerization and decomposition processes are kinetically competitive and simultaneously important under normal pyrolysis conditions.

Spin-orbit effects on the photophysical properties of Ru(bpy)32+

We present in this article a detailed study of the photophysics of the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) complex based on a formalism using density functional theory and an a posteriori treatment of the spin-orbit coupling. The absorption and emission spectra were computed and a very good agreement was obtained with the available experimental data. This work also reveals for the first time that the triplet metal-centered (MC) dd state cannot deactivate radiatively and corresponds to a transient structure for the nonradiative de-excitation of the triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) state. Thus, a competition takes place between the luminescence of the MLCT state and nonradiative decay back to the ground state via population of the MC state. This radiationless return to the ground state occurs via a deactivation funnel which has been characterized for the first time by optimizing the minimum energy crossing point between the triplet MC and singlet ground state potential energy surfaces. Its low-lying energy position relative to the energy necessary to access the MC minimum suggests that this funnel will be readily accessible.

Ab Initio and RRKM Study of the Reaction of ClO with HOCO Radicals

The reaction pathways for the ClO + HOCO reaction have been explored using the coupled-cluster method to locate and optimize the critical points on the ground-state potential-energy surface. Results show that the ClO + HOCO reaction can produce Cl + HOC(O)O, HOCl + CO(2), HCl + CO(3), and HClO + CO(2) via an addition or a direct hydrogen abstraction reaction mechanism. The reaction kinetics has been studied using the variational RRKM theory. It is found that the ClO + HOCO reaction is fast and has a negative temperature dependence at low temperatures. At room temperature, the thermal rate coefficient is obtained as 4.26 x 10(-12) cm(3) molecules(-1) s(-1) with product branching fractions of Cl (0.518), HOCl (0.469), HCl (0.01), and HClO (0.003) at zero pressure. The Cl + HOC(O)O products are major, compared to the HOCl + CO(2) products, because of the loose transition state along the dissociation pathway to eliminate Cl. In addition, the RRKM/master equation simulations indicate that the stabilization of the HOC(O)OCl intermediates is noticeable at moderate pressures as its thermal rate constants reach about 6.0 x 10(-13) cm(3) molecules(-1) s(-1). In contrast, the other product branching ratios for the ClO + HOCO reaction are weakly dependent on pressure.

The electronic emission spectrum of aluminum carbide

The gas phase spectrum of the aluminum carbide radical has been observed at low temperature in emission from a corona excited supersonic expansion source. The original rotational assignment of the B 4Σ −–X 4Σ − system is confirmed. Numerous bands of the previously unknown A 4Π–X 4Σ − system with v′ = 0–3 and v″ = 1–13 have been observed allowing for characterization of a significant part of the ground state potential energy surface.