Combined theoretical and experimental study of the valence, Rydberg, and ionic states of chlorobenzene

A mountaineering strategy to excited states: Accurate vertical transition energies and benchmarks for substituted benzenes

In an effort to expand the existing QUEST database of accurate vertical transition energies [Véril et al. WIREs Comput. Mol. Sci. 2021, 11, e1517], we have modeled more than 100 electronic excited states of different natures (local, charge-transfer, Rydberg, singlet, and triplet) in a dozen of mono- and di-substituted benzenes, including aniline, benzonitrile, chlorobenzene, fluorobenzene, nitrobenzene, among others. To establish theoretical best estimates for these vertical excitation energies, we have employed advanced coupled-cluster methods including iterative triples (CC3 and CCSDT) and, when technically possible, iterative quadruples (CC4). These high-level computational approaches provide a robust foundation for benchmarking a series of popular wave function methods. The evaluated methods all include contributions from double excitations (ADC(2), CC2, CCSD, CIS(D), EOM-MP2, STEOM-CCSD), along with schemes that also incorporate perturbative or iterative triples (ADC(3), CCSDR(3), CCSD(T)(a)⋆ $$ {}^{\star } $$ , and CCSDT-3). This systematic exploration not only broadens the scope of the QUEST database but also facilitates a rigorous assessment of different theoretical approaches in the framework of a homologous chemical series, offering valuable insights into the accuracy and reliability of these methods in such cases. We found that both ADC(2.5) and CCSDT-3 can provide very consistent estimates, whereas among less expensive methods SCS-CC2 is likely the most effective approach. Importantly, we show that some lower order methods may offer reasonable trends in the homologous series while providing quite large average errors, and vice versa. Consequently, benchmarking the accuracy of a model based solely on absolute transition energies may not be meaningful for applications involving a series of similar compounds.

The ultraviolet and vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectrum of gamma-pyrone; the singlet states studied by configuration interaction and density functional calculations

A synchrotron based vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectrum for γ-pyrone has been interpreted in terms of singlet excited electronic states using a variety of coupled cluster, configuration interaction, and density functional calculations. The extremely weak spectral onset at 3.557 eV shows eight vibrational peaks, which following previous analyses, are attributed to a forbidden 1A2 state. A contrasting broad peak with a maximum at 5.381 eV has a relatively high cross-section of 30 Mb; this arises from three overlapping states, where a 1A1 state dominates over progressively weaker 1B2 and 1B1 states. After fitting the second band to a polynomial Gaussian function and plotting the regular residuals over 20 vibrational peaks, we have had limited success in analyzing this fine structure. However, the small separation between these three states clearly shows that their vibrational satellites must overlap. Singlet valence and Rydberg state vibrational profiles were determined by configuration interaction using the CAM-B3LYP density functional. Vibrational analysis using both the Franck-Condon and Herzberg-Teller procedures showed that both procedures contributed to the profiles. Theoretical Rydberg states were evaluated by a highly focused CI procedure. The superposition of the lowest photoelectron spectral band on the vacuum ultraviolet spectrum near 6.4 eV shows that the 3s and 3p Rydberg states based on the 2B2 ionic state are present; those based on the other low-lying ionic state (X2B1) are destroyed by broadening; this is a dramatic extension of the broadening previously witnessed in our studies of halogenobenzenes.

Electronic Characterization of Glycolaldehyde: Experimental and Theoretical Insights from the Core- and Valence-Level Spectroscopy

The core-level electron excitation and ionization spectra of glycolaldehyde have been investigated by photoabsorption and photoemission spectroscopy at both carbon and oxygen K-edges; the valence ionization spectra were also recorded by photoelectron spectroscopy in the UV-vis region. The spectra are interpreted by means of ab initio calculations based on the equation-of-motion coupled cluster singles and doubles (EOM-CCSD) and coupled cluster singles, doubles, and perturbative are in good agreement with the experimental results, and many of the observed features are assigned. The photoabsorption spectra are not only dominated by transitions from core-level orbitals to unoccupied π and σ orbitals but also show structures due to Rydberg transitions.

NEXAFS and MS-AES spectroscopy of the C 1s and Cl 2p excitation and ionization of chlorobenzene: Production of dicationic species

We report on single- and double-charge photofragment formation by synchrotron radiation, following C 1s core excitation and ionization and Cl 2p inner excitation and ionization of chlorobenzene, C₆H₅Cl. From a comparison of experimental near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra and theoretical ab initio calculations, the nature of various core and inner shell transitions of the molecule and pure atomic features were identified. To shed light on the normal Auger processes following excitation or ionization of the molecule at the Cl 2p or C 1s sites, we addressed the induced ionic species formation. With energy resolved electron spectra and ion time-of-flight spectra coincidence measurements, the ionic species were correlated with binding energy regions and initial states of vacancies. We explored the formation of the molecular dication C₆H₅Cl²⁺, the analogue benzene dication C₆H₄²⁺, and the singly charged species produced by single loss of a carbon atom, C₅H_nCl⁺. The appearance and intensities of the spectral features associated with these ionic species are shown to be strongly site selective and dependent on the energy ranges of the Auger electron emission. Unexpected intensities for the analogue double charged benzene C₆H₄²⁺ ion were observed with fast Auger electrons. The transitions leading to C₆H₅Cl²⁺ were identified from the binding energy representation of high resolution electron energy spectra. Most C₆H₅Cl²⁺ ions decay into two singly charged moieties, but intermediate channels are opened leading to other heavy dicationic species, C₆H₄²⁺ and C₆H₄Cl²⁺, the channel leading to the first of these being much more favored than the other.

Microscopic Insight into Electron-Induced Dissociation of Aromatic Molecules on Ice

We use scanning tunneling microscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, and ab initio calculations to investigate the electron-induced dissociation of halogenated benzene molecules adsorbed on ice. Dissociation of halobenzene is triggered by delocalized excess electrons attaching to the π^{*} orbitals of the halobenzenes from where they are transferred to σ^{*} orbitals. The latter orbitals provide a dissociative potential surface. Adsorption on ice sufficiently lowers the energy barrier for the transfer between the orbitals to facilitate dissociation of bromo- and chloro- but not of flourobenzene at cryogenic temperatures. Our results shed light on the influence of environmentally important ice particles on the reactivity of halogenated aromatic molecules.

A combined theoretical and experimental study of the valence and Rydberg states of iodopentafluorobenzene

A new ultraviolet (UV) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectrum for iodopentafluorobenzene (C₆F₅I) using synchrotron radiation is reported. The measurements have been combined with those from a recent high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopic study. A major theoretical study, which includes both Franck-Condon (FC) and Herzberg-Teller (HT) analyses, leads to conclusions, which are compatible with both experimental studies. Our observation that the VUV multiplet at 7.926 eV in the VUV spectrum is a Rydberg state rather than a valence state leads to a fundamental reassignment of the VUV Rydberg spectrum over previous studies and removes an anomaly where some previously assigned Rydberg states were to optically forbidden states. Adiabatic excitation energies (AEEs) were determined from equations-of-motion coupled cluster with singles and doubles excitation; these were combined with time dependent density functional theoretical methods. Frequencies from these two methods are very similar, and this enabled the evaluation of both FC and HT contributions in the lower valence states. Multi-reference multi-root configuration interaction gave a satisfactory account of the principal UV+VUV spectral profile of C₆F₅I, with vertical band positions and intensities. The UV spectral onset consists of two very weak transitions assigned to 1¹B₁ (πσ*) and 1¹B₂ (σσ*) symmetries. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of a σ*(a₁) symmetry has a significant C-I* antibonding character. This results in considerable lengthening of the C-I bond for both these excited states. The vibrational intensity of the lowest 1¹B₁ state is dominated by HT contributions; the 1¹B₂ state contains both HT and FC contributions; the third band, which contains three states, two ππ*(1¹A₁, 2¹B₂) and one πσ*(2¹B₁), is dominated by FC contributions in the ¹A₁ state. In this ¹A₁ state, and the spectrally dominant bands near 6.7 (¹A₁) and 7.3 eV (¹A₁ + ¹B₂), the C-I bond length is in the normal range, and FC components dominate.

A combined theoretical and experimental study of the ionic states of iodopentafluorobenzene

A new synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectral (PES) study of iodopentafluorobenzene, together with a theoretical analysis of the spectrum, where Franck-Condon factors are discussed, gives detailed insight into the ionization processes, and this exposes the need for a reinvestigation of the vacuum ultraviolet spectral (VUV) assignments. We have calculated adiabatic ionization energies (AIEs) for several ionic states, using the equation-of-motion coupled cluster method for ionic states combined with multi-configuration self-consistent field calculation study. The AIE sequence is: X²B₁ < A²A₂ < B²B₂ < C2²B₁ < D²A₁ < E3²B₁. This symmetry sequence has a major impact on previous VUV spectral assignments, which now appear to be to optically forbidden states. Changes in the equilibrium structures for these ionic states are relatively small, but a significant decrease and increase in the C-I bond length relative to the X¹A₁ structure occurs for the X²B₁ and C²B₁ states, respectively. The PES shows major vibrational overlaps between pairs of ionic states, X with A, and A with B. The result of these overlaps is the loss of vibrational structure and considerable broadening of the higher energy PES state. Although the baseline is nearly re-established between the A and B states, where the two bands are nearly separate, the B state is also broadened by the A state. Only the C ionic state, which shows the most highly developed vibrational structure, can be regarded as free from vibrational coupling to a neighbor state. The Franck-Condon analysis of the PES bands X, A, B, and C is described in detail; the apparent simplicity of some of these bands is illusory, since almost all the observed peaks arise from super-position of several calculated vibrational states. The experimental AIE of the A state, which is submerged under the X state envelope, has been determined by the subtraction of the calculated X state envelope from the observed PES spectrum. The overlap of these PES bands and the apparent closeness of the potential energy curves describing them have been investigated, using the state-averaged, complete active space self-consistent field method. We have identified two structures, one where the potential energy curves for the X and A states cross and another for the A and B states. At these two conical intersections (ConInts), there is zero-energy difference within each pair of states. Although similar in energy, the ConInt for the crossing of the X with A states, and that for the A with B states, shows that the open-shell occupancies correspond to the 4 lowest AIE states, and all four states that are quite different from each other.

Combined theoretical and experimental study of the valence, Rydberg and ionic states of fluorobenzene

New photoelectron spectra (PES) and ultra violet (UV) and vacuum UV (VUV) absorption spectra of fluorobenzene recorded at higher resolution than previously, have been combined with mass-resolved (2 + 1) and (3 + 1) resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectra; this has led to the identification of numerous Rydberg states. The PES have been compared with earlier mass-analyzed threshold ionization and photoinduced Rydberg ionization (PIRI) spectra to give an overall picture of the ionic state sequence. The analysis of these spectra using both equations of motion with coupled cluster singles and doubles (EOM-CCSD) configuration interaction and time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations have been combined with vibrational analysis of both the hot and cold bands of the spectra, in considerable detail. The results extend several earlier studies on the vibronic coupling leading to conical intersections between the X(2)B1 and A(2)A2 states, and a further trio (B, C, and D) of states. The conical intersection of the X and A states has been explicitly identified, and its structure and energetics evaluated. The energy sequence of the last group is only acceptable to the present study if given as B(2)B2<C(2)B1<D(2)A1, a conclusion which is in agreement with most previous EOM-CCSD and other calculations. However, this symmetry ordering of the B and C states forces reconsideration of the nature of the PIRI spectrum. The coupling between these two states is induced by the a2 modes, ν12 and ν14 and we propose that the 14(1) band is observed in the B(2)B2 band in the PES for the first time, because of the improved resolution. This same assignment is given to the lowest energy band in the PIRI spectrum which was previously assigned as the origin band and further conclude that the entire PIRI spectrum is induced by ν12 and ν14. The relative intensities of the various Rydberg state peaks in the VUV absorption and REMPI spectra of fluorobenzene are very similar to those observed in the equivalent spectra of benzene.