Halogen Effect on the Photodissociation Mechanism for Gas-Phase Bromobenzene and Iodobenzene

Time-Resolved Probing of the Iodobenzene C-Band Using XUV-Induced Electron Transfer Dynamics

Time-resolved extreme ultraviolet spectroscopy was used to investigate photodissociation within the iodobenzene C-band. The carbon-iodine bond of iodobenzene was photolyzed at 200 nm, and the ensuing dynamics were probed at 10.3 nm (120 eV) over a 4 ps range. Two product channels were observed and subsequently isolated by using a global fitting method. Their onset times and energetics were assigned to distinct electron transfer dynamics initiated following site-selective ionization of the iodine photoproducts, enabling the electronic states of the phenyl fragments to be identified using a classical over-the-barrier model for electron transfer. In combination with previous theoretical work, this allowed the corresponding neutral photochemistry to be assigned to (1) dissociation via the 7B2, 8A2, and 8B1 states to give ground-state phenyl, Ph(X), and spin-orbit excited iodine and (2) dissociation through the 7A1 and 8B2 states to give excited-state phenyl, Ph(A), and ground-state iodine. The branching ratio was determined to be 87 ± 4% Ph(X) and 13 ± 4% Ph(A). Similarly, the corresponding amount of energy deposited into the internal phenyl modes in these channels was determined to be 44 ± 10 and 65 ± 21%, respectively, and upper bounds to the channel rise times were found to be 114 ± 6 and 310 ± 60 fs.

Photodegradation of Flutamide and Halogen Derivatives of Nitrobenzotrifluoride: The NO Release Channel

The photodegradation of the nonsteroidal antiandrogen drug flutamide has been long linked to the photoisomerization involving the nitro group. In this work, the dynamics of NO photoelimination upon photolysis at 266 nm of flutamide, nitrobenzotrifluoride, and its halogen derivatives were investigated. Similar to nitrobenzene and its derivatives, a bimodal translational energy distribution was observed for the NO photofragment indicating the presence of two distinct elimination channels resulting in slow and fast components. The trends in the slow/fast branching ratio show that halogen substitution at the para position increases the triplet state yield due to the internal heavy-atom effect leading to enhancement of the fast component. Furthermore, the topology of the triplet state potential energy surface showed that the minimum energy path favors the oxaziridine ring-type intermediate over the NO2 roaming mechanism in all five molecules investigated. The steric interaction between the NO2 group and the CF3 group, which are placed in the ortho position, lowers the barrier for the formation of the oxaziridine transition state compared to that of nitrobenzene.

Probing C-I bond fission in the UV photochemistry of 2-iodothiophene with core-to-valence transient absorption spectroscopy

The UV photochemistry of small heteroaromatic molecules serves as a testbed for understanding fundamental photo-induced chemical transformations in moderately complex compounds, including isomerization, ring-opening, and molecular dissociation. Here, a combined experimental-theoretical study of 268 nm UV light-induced dynamics in 2-iodothiophene (C4H3IS) is performed. The dynamics are experimentally monitored with a femtosecond extreme ultraviolet (XUV) probe that measures iodine N-edge 4d core-to-valence transitions. Experiments are complemented by density functional theory calculations of both the pump-pulse induced valence excitations and the XUV probe-induced core-to-valence transitions. Possible intramolecular relaxation dynamics are investigated by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. Gradual absorption changes up to ∼0.5 to 1 ps after excitation are observed for both the parent molecular species and emerging iodine fragments, with the latter appearing with a characteristic rise time of 160 ± 30 fs. Comparison of spectral intensities and energies with the calculations identifies an iodine dissociation pathway initiated by a predominant π → π* excitation. In contrast, initial excitation to a nearby n⟂ → σ* state appears unlikely based on a significantly smaller oscillator strength and the absence of any corresponding XUV absorption signatures. Excitation to the π → π* state is followed by contraction of the C-I bond, enabling a nonadiabatic transition to a dissociative π→σC-I* state. For the subsequent fragmentation, a relatively narrow bond-length region along the C-I stretch coordinate between 230 and 280 pm is identified, where the transition between the parent molecule and the thienyl radical + iodine atom products becomes prominent in the XUV spectrum due to rapid localization of two singly occupied molecular orbitals on the two fragments.

Development of a fully coupled diabatic spin-orbit model for the photodissociation of phenyl iodide

The theoretical treatment of the quantum dynamics of the phenyl iodide photodissociation requires an accurate analytical potential energy surface (PES) model. This model must also account for spin-orbit (SO) coupling. This study is the first step to construct accurate SO coupled PESs, namely, for the C-I dissociation coordinate. The model is based on the Effective Relativistic Coupling by Asymptotic Representation (ERCAR) method developed over the past ten years. The SO-free Hamiltonian is represented in an asymptotic diabatic basis and then combined with an atomic effective relativistic coupling operator determined analytically. In contrast to the previously studied cases (HI, CH₃I), the diabatic basis states are due to excitations in the phenyl fragment rather than the iodine atom. An accurate analytical model of the ab initio reference data is determined in two steps. The first step is a simple reference model describing the data qualitatively. This reference model is corrected through a trained artificial neural-network to achieve high accuracy. The SO-free and the fine structure states resulting from this ERCAR model are discussed extensively in the context of the photodissociation.

Ultrafast Photodissociation Dynamics of Highly Excited Iodobenzene on the C Band

The photodissociation dynamics of highly excited iodobenzene from the C band absorption has been studied by femtosecond time-resolved ion yields techniques. Detailed photodissociation routes are discussed with the aid of high-level, spin-orbit resolved ab initio calculations of 1D potential energy curves. Upon 200 nm excitation within the C band, iodobenzene molecules on 7B₂ and 7B₁ states decay to 7A₁ and 8B₂ states through internal conversion in 75 fs, with electronic energy converted into high vibrational energy of 7A₁ and 8B₂ states. Subsequently, 7A₁ and 8B₂ states decay through internal vibrational energy redistribution in 540 fs, accompanied by the excited C-I mode and the resulting cleavage of the C-I bond. The overall time for the reaction starting from the phenyl-type modes and ending in final C-I fragmentation for I(²P_3/2) production is 1.2 ps.

Interpretation of the photoelectron, ultraviolet, and vacuum ultraviolet photoabsorption spectra of bromobenzene by ab initio configuration interaction and DFT computations

New photoelectron, ultraviolet (UV), and vacuum UV (VUV) spectra have been obtained for bromobenzene by synchrotron study with higher sensitivity and resolution than previous work. This, together with use of ab initio calculations with both configuration interaction and time dependent density functional theoretical methods, has led to major advances in interpretation. The VUV spectrum has led to identification of a considerable number of Rydberg states for the first time. The Franck-Condon (FC) analyses including both hot and cold bands lead to identification of the vibrational structure of both ionic and electronically excited states including two Rydberg states. The UV onset has been interpreted in some detail, and an interpretation based on the superposition of FC and Herzberg-Teller contributions has been performed. In a similar way, the 6 eV absorption band which is poorly resolved is analysed in terms of the presence of two ππ* states of (1)A1 (higher oscillator strength) and (1)B2 (lower oscillator strength) symmetries, respectively. The detailed analysis of the vibrational structure of the 2(2)B1 ionic state is particularly challenging, and the best interpretation is based on equation-of-motion-coupled cluster with singles and doubles computations. A number of equilibrium structures of the ionic and singlet excited states show that the molecular structure is less subject to variation than corresponding studies for iodobenzene. The equilibrium structures of the 3b13s and 6b23s (valence shell numbering) Rydberg states have been obtained and compared with the corresponding ionic limit structures.

Femtosecond photodissociation dynamics of 1,4-diiodobenzene by gas-phase X-ray scattering and photoelectron spectroscopy

We present a multifaceted investigation into the initial photodissociation dynamics of 1,4-diiodobenzene (DIB) following absorption of 267 nm radiation. We combine ultrafast time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray scattering experiments performed at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) to study the initial electronic excitation and subsequent rotational alignment, and interpret the experiments in light of Complete Active Space Self-Consistent Field (CASSCF) calculations of the excited electronic landscape. The initially excited state is found to be a bound ¹B₁ surface, which undergoes ultrafast population transfer to a nearby state in 35 ± 10 fs. The internal conversion most likely leads to one or more singlet repulsive surfaces that initiate the dissociation. This initial study is an essential and prerequisite component of a comprehensive study of the complete photodissociation pathway(s) of DIB at 267 nm. Assignment of the initially excited electronic state as a bound state identifies the mechanism as predissociative, and measurement of its lifetime establishes the time between excitation and initiation of dissociation, which is crucial for direct comparison of photoelectron and scattering experiments.

Interpretation of the vacuum ultraviolet photoabsorption spectrum of iodobenzene by ab initio computations

Identification of many Rydberg states in iodobenzene, especially from the first and fourth ionization energies (IE1 and IE4, X(2)B1 and C(2)B1), has become possible using a new ultraviolet (UV) and vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) absorption spectrum, in the region 29 000-87 000 cm(-1) (3.60-10.79 eV), measured at room temperature with synchrotron radiation. A few Rydberg states based on IE2 (A(2)A2) were found, but those based on IE3 (B(2)B2) are undetectable. The almost complete absence of observable Rydberg states relating to IE2 and IE3 (A(2)A2 and B(2)B2, respectively) is attributed to them being coupled to the near-continuum, high-energy region of Rydberg series converging on IE1. Theoretical studies of the UV and VUV spectra used both time-dependent density functional (TDDFT) and multi-reference multi-root doubles and singles-configuration interaction methods. The theoretical adiabatic excitation energies, and their corresponding vibrational profiles, gave a satisfactory interpretation of the experimental results. The calculations indicate that the UV onset contains both 1(1)B1 and 1(1)B2 states with very low oscillator strength, while the 2(1)B1 state was found to lie under the lowest ππ(∗) 1(1)A1 state. All three of these (1)B1 and (1)B2 states are excitations into low-lying σ(∗) orbitals. The strongest VUV band near 7 eV contains two very strong ππ(∗) valence states, together with other weak contributors. The lowest Rydberg 4b16s state (3(1)B1) is very evident as a sharp multiplet near 6 eV; its position and vibrational structure are well reproduced by the TDDFT results.

Theoretical study on the photodegradation mechanism of nona-BDEs in methanol

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have received special environmental concern due to their potential toxicity to humans and wildlife worldwide, however, it is difficult to reveal their dominant photochemical degradation pathways by experiment. We explored the reaction mechanisms of photochemical degradation-debromination of three nona-BDEs in methanol using theoretical calculations, in which time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) combined with the polarizable continuum (PCM) model is applied. The selectivity of debromination was studied, and the major octa-BDE products photochemically debrominated from nona-BDEs were identified. We find that the debromination reaction results from the electronic transitions from π to σ* orbitals when nona-BDEs are exposed to UV-light in the sunlight region, at which point the two low-lying excited states for each nona-BDE are πσ*(5Br) and πσ*(4Br), which correlate to the σ* orbitals located on the penta-Br and tetra-Br substituted phenyls, respectively. Our calculations indicate that each nona-BDE may degrade to form three kinds of octa-BDE products via the πσ*(5Br) state, whereas only one kind of octa-BDEs can be formed via the πσ*(4Br) state. Our calculations can interpret the recent experiments successfully.

An ab initio investigation of the mechanisms of photodissociation in bromobenzene and iodobenzene

In concert with the latest experiment of velocity imaging technique [X. P. Zhang et al., ChemPhysChem 9, 1130 (2008)], quantum chemical calculations with relativistic effect were performed on the photodissociation of bromobenzene (BrPh) and iodobenzene (IPh) at 266 nm. The method of multistate second order multiconfigurational perturbation theory in conjunction with spin-orbit interaction through complete active space state interaction was employed to calculate the potential energy curves for the ground and low-lying excited states of BrPh and IPh along their photodissociation reaction coordinates. The dissociation mechanisms with products of X((2)P(3/2)) and X(*)((2)P(1/2)) (X = Br,I) states were clarified.

Photodissociation of dibromobenzenes at 266 nm by the velocity imaging technique

A velocity imaging technique combined with (2+1) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) is used to detect the primary Br((2)P(3/2)) fragment in the photodissociation of o-, m-, and p-dibromobenzene at 266 nm. The obtained translational energy distributions suggest that the Br fragments are produced via two dissociation channels. For o- and m-dibromobenzene, the slow channel that yields an anisotropy parameter close to zero is proposed to stem from excitation of the lowest excited singlet (pi,pi*) state followed by predissociation along a repulsive triplet (n,sigma*) state localized on the C-Br bond. The fast channel that gives rise to an anisotropy parameter of 0.53-0.73 is attributed to a bound triplet state with smaller dissociation barrier. For p-dibromobenzene, the dissociation rates are reversed, because the barrier for the bound triplet state becomes higher than the singlet-triplet crossing energy. The fractions of translational energy release are determined to be 6-8 and 29-40 % for the slow and fast channels, respectively; the quantum yields are 0.2 and 0.8, and are insensitive to the position of the substituent. The Br fragmentation from bromobenzene and bromofluorobenzenes at the same photolyzing wavelength is also compared to understand the effect of the number of halogen atoms on the phenyl ring.