The vibronic level structure of the cyclopentadienyl radical

Time dependent vibrational electronic coupled cluster (VECC) theory for non-adiabatic nuclear dynamics

A time-dependent vibrational electronic coupled-cluster (VECC) approach is proposed to simulate photo-electron/UV-VIS absorption spectra as well as time-dependent properties for non-adiabatic vibronic models, going beyond the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. A detailed derivation of the equations of motion and a motivation for the ansatz are presented. The VECC method employs second-quantized bosonic construction operators and a mixed linear and exponential ansatz to form a compact representation of the time-dependent wave-function. Importantly, the method does not require a basis set, has only a few user-defined inputs, and has a classical (polynomial) scaling with respect to the number of degrees of freedom (of the vibronic model), resulting in a favorable computational cost. In benchmark applications to small models and molecules, the VECC method provides accurate results compared to multi-configurational time-dependent Hartree calculations when predicting short-time dynamical properties (i.e., photo-electron/UV-VIS absorption spectra) for non-adiabatic vibronic models. To illustrate the capabilities, the VECC method is also successfully applied to a large vibronic model for hexahelicene with 14 electronic states and 63 normal modes, developed in the group by Aranda and Santoro [J. Chem. Theory Comput. 17, 1691, (2021)].

Probing the Strong Nonadiabatic Interactions in the Triazolyl Radical Using Photodetachment Spectroscopy and Resonant Photoelectron Imaging of Cryogenically Cooled Anions

Although the adiabatic potential energy surfaces defined by the Born-Oppenheimer approximation are the cornerstones for understanding the electronic structure and spectroscopy of molecular systems, nonadiabatic effects due to the coupling of electronic states by nuclear motions are common in complex molecular systems. The nonadiabatic effects were so strong in the 1,2,3-triazolyl radical (C₂H₂N₃) that the photoelectron spectrum of the triazolide anion was rendered unassignable and could only be understood using nonadiabatic calculations, involving the four low-lying electronic states of triazolyl. Using photodetachment spectroscopy and resonant photoelectron imaging of cryogenically cooled anions, we are able to completely unravel the complex vibronic levels of the triazolyl radical. Photodetachment spectroscopy reveals a dipole-bound state for the triazolide anion at 172 cm^-1 below the detachment threshold and 32 vibrational Feshbach resonances. Resonant photoelectron imaging is conducted by tuning the detachment laser to each of the Feshbach resonances. Combining the photodetachment spectrum and the resonant photoelectron spectra, we are able to assign all 28 vibronic peaks resolved for the triazolyl radical. Fundamental frequencies for 12 vibrational modes of the ground state of the triazolyl radical are measured experimentally. The current study provides unprecedented experimental vibronic information, which will be valuable to verify theoretical models to treat nonadiabatic effects involving multiple electronic states.

Velocity map imaging spectroscopy of C2H- and C2D-: A benchmark study of vibronic coupling interactions

High-resolution velocity-map imaged photoelectron spectra of the ethynyl anions C₂H^- and C₂D^- are measured at photon wavelengths between 355 and 266 nm to investigate the complex interactions between the closely lying X̃²Σ⁺ and Ã²Π electronic states. An indicative kinetic energy resolution of 0.4%, together with the full angular dependence of the fast electrons, provides a detailed description of the vibronically coupled structure. It is demonstrated that a modest quadratic vibronic coupling model, parameterized by the quasidiabatic ansatz, is sufficient to accurately recreate all the observed vibronic interactions. Simulated spectra are shown to be in excellent agreement with the experimental data, verifying the proposed model and providing a framework that may be used to accurately simulate spectra of larger C_2nH monohydride carbon chains. New spectral assignments are supported by experimental electron anisotropy measurements and Dyson orbital calculations.

High-Resolution Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Vibrationally Excited OH. J Phys Chem A 2021;125:7260-7265. [PMID: 34433266 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.1c05514]

The effect of vibrational pre-excitation of anions on their photoelectron spectra is explored, combining slow photoelectron velocity-map imaging of cryogenically cooled anions (cryo-SEVI) with tunable IR radiation to pre-excite the anions. This new IR cryo-SEVI method is applied to OH^- as a test system, where the R(0) transition of the hydroxyl anion (3591.53 cm^-1) is pumped. Vibrational excitation induces a 30% depletion in photodetachment signal from the v = 0, J = 0 ground state of the anion and the appearance of all five allowed, rotationally resolved photodetachment transitions from the OH^- (v = 1, J = 1) level, each with peak widths between 1 and 2 cm^-1. By scanning the IR laser, IR cryo-SEVI can also serve as a novel action technique to obtain the vibrational spectrum of OH^-, giving an experimental value for the R(0) transition of 3591(1.2) cm^-1.

Observation of Discrete Valence Tautomers in Crystalline Cyclopentadienyl Radicals

Single crystal X-ray (sc XRD) analyses of three symmetrically substituted cyclopentadienyl radicals (1, 2, 5) containing sterically demanding aryl groups showed that they crystallize as discrete valence tautomers (Jahn-Teller distortion) in the solid state with the unpaired electron either located in the b₁ orbital (type I, state ²B₁), resulting in a localized radical with two adjacent double bonds, or the a₂ orbital (type II, state ²A₂), leading to an allyl-type radical. Their properties in solution were examined by EPR spectroscopy as well as cyclovoltammetry and UV/vis spectroscopy including two additional cyclopentadienyl radicals (1-5). The electronic nature of 1-5 was further investigated by quantum chemical calculations.

Cyclopentadienyl radical formation from the reaction of excited nitrogen atoms with benzene: a theoretical study

Ab initio CCSD(T)/CBS//ωB97X-D/6-311+G(d,p) calculations of the C6H6N potential energy surface were performed to investigate the reaction mechanism underlying the reaction of atomic nitrogen (2D) with benzene. Thereafter, Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) calculations of reaction rate constants and product branching ratios were performed under single-collision conditions. The results revealed that the N(2D) + C6H6 reaction in the case of statistical behavior is expected to produce hydrogen cyanide plus a cyclopentadienyl radical (91.5-88.9%), acetylene plus a pyrrole radical (5.8-7.5%), 1-cyano-2,4-cyclopentadiene + H (2.3-3.0%) and 1-ethynyl-pyrrole + H (0.4-0.6%), with the most favorable pathways being the initial adduct i1 leading to the formation of a seven-membered cyclic intermediate i12 through an exothermic ring expansion process and a multistep route i12 → i15 → i16 → C5H5 + HCN featuring an intramolecular ring-shrinking process involving a C-C bond fusion elimination channel to yield the bicyclic intermediate i15, followed by hydrogen cyanide elimination, thus forming a cyclopentadienyl radical. The calculated product branching ratios were consistent with the available experimental data; however, some quantitative deviations from the experimental results and the possible reasons are also discussed. The possible effects of the title reaction on the upper atmosphere of Titan, with critical implications for the rapid degradation of nitrogen-bearing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, were compared with the mass growth processes of their polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon counterparts produced through ring expansion.

Compact Bases for Vibronic Coupling in Spectral Simulations: The Photoelectron Spectrum of Cyclopentoxide in the Full 39 Internal Modes

We report an algorithm to automatically generate compact multimode vibrational bases for the Köppel-Domcke-Cederbaum (KDC) vibronic coupling wave function used in spectral simulations of moderate-sized molecules. As a full quantum method, the size of the vibronic expansion grows exponentially with respect to the number of vibrational modes, necessitating compact bases for moderate-sized systems. The problem of generating such a basis consists of two parts: one is the choice of vibrational normal modes, and the other is the number of phonons allowed in each mode. A previously developed final-state-biased technique addresses the former part, and this work focuses on the latter part: proposing an algorithm for generating an optimal phonon distribution. By virtue of this phonon distribution, compact and affordable bases can be automatically generated for systems with on the order of 15 atoms. Our algorithm is applied to determine the nonadiabatic photoelectron spectrum of cyclopentoxide in the full 39 internal modes.

Slow Photoelectron Velocity-Map Imaging of Cryogenically Cooled Anions

Slow photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy of cryogenically cooled anions (cryo-SEVI) is a powerful technique for elucidating the vibrational and electronic structure of neutral radicals, clusters, and reaction transition states. SEVI is a high-resolution variant of anion photoelectron spectroscopy based on photoelectron imaging that yields spectra with energy resolution as high as 1-2 cm^-1. The preparation of cryogenically cold anions largely eliminates hot bands and dramatically narrows the rotational envelopes of spectral features, enabling the acquisition of well-resolved photoelectron spectra for complex and spectroscopically challenging species. We review the basis and history of the SEVI method, including recent experimental developments that have improved its resolution and versatility. We then survey recent SEVI studies to demonstrate the utility of this technique in the spectroscopy of aromatic radicals, metal and metal oxide clusters, nonadiabatic interactions between excited states of small molecules, and transition states of benchmark bimolecular reactions.

A Joint Experimental and Computational Study of the Negative Ion Photoelectron Spectroscopy of the 1-Phospha-2,3,4-triazolate Anion, HCPN3(.)

We report here the results of a combined experimental and computational study of the negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy (NIPES) of the recently synthesized, planar, aromatic, HCPN3(-) ion. The adiabatic electron detachment energy of HCPN3(-) (electron affinity of HCPN3(•)) was measured to be 3.555 ± 0.010 eV, a value that is intermediate between the electron detachment energies of the closely related (CH)2N3(-) and P2N3(-) ions. High level electronic structure calculations and Franck-Condon factor (FCF) simulations reveal that transitions from the ground state of the anion to two nearly degenerate, low-lying, electronic states, of the neutral HCPN3(•) radical are responsible for the congested peaks at low binding energies in the NIPE spectrum. The best fit of the simulated NIPE spectrum to the experimental spectrum indicates that the ground state of HCPN3(•) is a 5π-electron (2)A″ π radical state, with a 6π-electron, (2)A', σ radical state being at most 1.0 kcal/mol higher in energy.

Negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy of P2N3-: electron affinity and electronic structures of P2N3˙

We report here a negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy (NIPES) and ab initio study of the recently synthesized planar aromatic inorganic ion P2N3-, to investigate the electronic structures of P2N3- and its neutral P2N3˙ radical. The adiabatic detachment energy of P2N3- (electron affinity of P2N3˙) was determined to be 3.765 ± 0.010 eV, indicating high stability for the P2N3- anion. Ab initio electronic structure calculations reveal the existence of five, low-lying, electronic states in the neutral P2N3˙ radical. Calculation of the Franck-Condon factors (FCFs) for each anion-to-neutral electronic transition and comparison of the resulting simulated NIPE spectrum with the vibrational structure in the observed spectrum allows the first four excited states of P2N3˙ to be determined to lie 6.2, 6.7, 11.5, and 22.8 kcal mol-1 above the ground state of the radical, which is found to be a 6π-electron, 2A1, σ state.

Non-adiabatic effects in thermochemistry, spectroscopy and kinetics: the general importance of all three Born–Oppenheimer breakdown corrections

Analytical and numerical solutions describing Born–Oppenheimer breakdown in a simple, widely applicable, model depict shortcomings in modern computational methods.