Theoretical Study of the Low-Lying Electronically Excited States of OBrO

Electronic structures and spin density distributions of BrO2 and (HO)2BrO radicals. Mechanisms for avoidance of hypervalency and for spin delocalization and spin polarization

The results are reported of an ab initio study of bromine dioxide BrO2, 1, and of the T-shaped trans- and cis-dihydroxides 2 and 3 of dihydrogen bromate (HO)2BrO. The thermochemistry has been explored of potential synthetic routes to (HO)2BrO involving water addition to BrO2, hydroxyl addition to bromous acid HOBrO, 4, protonation/reduction of bromic acid HOBrO2, 5, via tautomers 6-8 of protonated bromic acid, and by reduction/protonation of bromic acid via radical anion [HOBrO2](-), 9. The potential energy surface analyses were performed at the MP2(full)/6-311G* level (or better) and with the consideration of aqueous solvation at the SMD(MP2(full)/6-311G*) level (or better), and higher-level energies were computed at levels up to QCISD(full,T)/6-311++G(2df,2pd)//MP2. The addition of RO radical to bromous acid or bromite esters and the reduction of protonated bromic acid or protonated bromate esters are promising leads for possible synthetic exploration. Spin density distributions and molecular electrostatic potentials were computed at the QCISD(full)/6-311G*//MP2(full)/6-311G* level to characterize the electronic structures of 1-3. Both radicals employ maximally occupied (pseudo) π-systems to transfer electron density from bromine to the periphery. While the formation of the (3c-5e) π-system suffices to avoid hypervalency in 1, the formation of the (4c-7e) π-system in 2 or 3 still leaves the bromine formally hypervalent and (HO)2BrO requires delocalization of bromine density into σ*-SMOs over the trans O-Br-O moiety. Molecular orbital theory is employed to describe the mechanisms for the avoidance of hypervalency and for spin delocalization and spin polarization. The (4c-7e) π-system in 2 is truly remarkable in that it contains five π-symmetric spin molecular orbitals (SMO) with unique shapes.

Three-dimensional time-dependent wave-packet calculations of OBrO absorption spectra

The absorption spectra of the C(2A2) <-- X(2B1) transition of the OBrO molecule are calculated using three-dimensional time-dependent wave-packet method in Radau coordinates for a total angular momentum J=0. The wave packet is propagated using the split operator technique associated with fast Fourier transform. Employing the basis functions obtained by one-dimensional Fourier grid Hamiltonian method, the initial wave packet is calculated directly on the three-dimensional Fourier grid. The numerical model is characterized by simplicity and efficiency. The ab initio potential surfaces for the C(2A2) and X(2B1) states are used in the calculation. The calculated absorption spectra of the C(2A2) <-- X(2B1) transition of OBrO molecule agree well with the experimental results.

The Visible Absorption Spectrum of OBrO, Investigated by Fourier Transform Spectroscopy

By the utilization of a new laboratory method to synthesize OBrO employing an electric discharge, the visible absorption spectrum of gaseous OBrO has been investigated. Absorption spectra of OBrO have been recorded at 298 K, using a continuous-scan Fourier transform spectrometer at a spectral resolution of 0.8 cm(-1). A detailed vibrational and rotational analysis of the observed transitions has been carried out. The FTS measurements provide experimental evidence that the visible absorption spectrum of OBrO results from the electronic transition C(2A2)-X(2B1). Vibrational constants have been determined for the C(2A2) state (omega(1) = 648.3 +/- 1.9 cm(-1) and omega 2 = 212.8 +/- 1.2 cm(-1)) and for the X(2B1) state (omega 1 = 804.1 +/- 0.8 cm(-1) and omega 2 = 312.2 +/- 0.5 cm(-1)). The vibrational bands (1,0,0), (2,0,0), and (1,1,0) show rotational structure, whereas the other observed bands are unstructured because of strong predissociation. Rotational constants have been determined experimentally for the upper electronic state C(2A2). By modeling the band contours, predissociation lifetimes have been estimated. Further, an estimate for the absorption cross-section of OBrO has been made by assessing the bromine budget within the gas mixture, and atmospheric lifetimes of OBrO have been calculated using a photochemical model.

Accurate energetics of small molecules containing third-row atoms Ga–Kr: A comparison of advanced ab initio and density functional theory

Advanced ab initio [coupled cluster theory through quasiperturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T))] and density functional (B3LYP) computational chemistry approaches were used in combination with the standard and augmented correlation consistent polarized valence basis sets [cc-pVnZ and aug-cc-pVnZ, where n=D(2), T(3), Q(4), and 5] to investigate the energetic and structural properties of small molecules containing third-row (Ga-Kr) atoms. These molecules were taken from the Gaussian-2 (G2) extended test set for third-row atoms. Several different schemes were used to extrapolate the calculated energies to the complete basis set (CBS) limit for CCSD(T) and the Kohn-Sham (KS) limit for B3LYP. Zero point energy and spin orbital corrections were included in the results. Overall, CCSD(T) atomization energies, ionization energies, proton affinities, and electron affinities are in good agreement with experiment, within 1.1 kcal/mol when the CBS limit has been determined using a series of two basis sets of at least triple zeta quality. For B3LYP, the overall mean absolute deviation from experiment for the three properties and the series of molecules is more significant at the KS limit, within 2.3 and 2.6 kcal/mol for the cc-pVnZ and aug-cc-pVnZ basis set series, respectively.