Excited-state deactivation of 5-vinyluracil: Effects of π-π conjugation and intramolecular hydrogen bond C H⋯O C

Mechanistic Understanding and Reactivity Analyses for the Photochemistry of Disubstituted Tetrazoles

The photolysis of tetrazoles has undergone extensive research. However, there are still some problems to be solved in terms of mechanistic understanding and reactivity analyses, which leaves room for theoretical calculations. Herein, multiconfiguration perturbation theory at the CASPT2//CASSCF level was employed to account for electron correction effects involved in the photolysis of four disubstituted tetrazoles. Based on calculations of vertical excitation properties and evaluations of intersystem crossing (ISC) efficiencies in the Frank-Condon region, the combination of space and electronic effects is found in maximum-absorption excitation. Two types of ISC (¹ππ* → ³nπ*, ¹ππ* → ³ππ*) are determined in disubstituted tetrazoles, and the obtained rates follow the El-Sayed rule. Through mapping three representative types of minimum energy profiles for the photolysis of 1,5-, and 2,5-disubstituted tetrazoles, a conclusion can be drawn that the photolysis of tetrazoles exhibits reactivity characteristic of bond-breaking selectivity. Kinetic evaluations show that the photogeneration of singlet imidoylnitrene operates predominately over that in the triplet state, which can be confirmed by a double-well model in the triplet potential energy surface of 1,5-disubstituted tetrazole. Similar mechanistic explorations and reactivity analyses were also applied to the photolysis of 2,5-disubstituted tetrazole to unveil fragmentation patterns of nitrile imine generation. All computational efforts allow us to better understand the photoreactions of disubstituted tetrazoles and to provide useful strategies for regulating their unique reactivity.

Substitution Dependent Ultrafast Ultraviolet Energy Dissipation Mechanisms of Plant Sunscreens

An ultraviolet energy dissipation mechanism plays a critical role in the photoprotection effect of sunscreens. In this work, we discovered substitution dependent UV energy dissipation mechanisms of model plant sunscreen methyl sinapate (MS). We found that the initially populated V(ππ*) states of MS and p-OMeMS relax to the ground state nonradiatively along an ultrafast trans-cis photoisomerization in tens of picoseconds. However, for p-HMS, an internal conversion from V(ππ*) to a relative dark V'(ππ*) state occurs in less than 1 ps, leading to a branching of the excited-state relaxations. The V (ππ*) state still relaxes nonradiatively as in the case of MS and p-OMeMS. In contrast, the V'(ππ*) state decays to the ground state mainly by emitting photons, exhibiting a lifetime as long as 5 ns. It is the first time to definitely distinguish the dynamics between V(ππ*) and V'(ππ*) states in the study of sinapates and cinnamates. These results indicate the anticipation of the V'(ππ*) state should be avoided when designing sunscreens.