Electronic spectra of jet-cooled 1,4-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene: Strength in π-electron conjugation and two large-amplitude torsional motions.

To spectroscopically qualify strength in the π-electron conjugation, the electronic spectra of jet-cooled 1,4-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene (BPEB) in the region of the transition to the lowest excited singlet (S1) 1B1u state are measured by the fluorescence excitation and the single-vibronic-level dispersed fluorescence methods. Strength is defined as the difference in potential energies between the planar and perpendicular conformations. BPEB possesses two large-amplitude torsional motions, out-of-phase 24 and in-phase 29 modes. The most stable is the planar conformation, and barrier heights at the perpendicular conformation are coincident in torsional potentials for the two modes. Torsional levels are successively observed up to 19± and 16- quantum levels in the ground state, respectively. Strength is determined to be 293 cm-1 (3.51 kJmol-1) with an accuracy of an error range smaller than 1 cm-1. In the excited state, strength is estimated to be 1549 ± 73 cm-1. Combination levels of two torsional modes are also measured up to high quantum levels. A systematic decrease in frequencies is observed with increasing the quantum number. Quantum-chemistry calculations of B3LYP, CAM-B3PLYP, WB97XD, and M062X with basis sets of aug-cc-pVDZ are performed, where B3LYP theories are carried out with the dispersion correlation. The calculated strength is 1.1-2.1 times larger than observed.

Electronic excitation spectra of jet-cooled phenyl isocyanate, m-tolyl isocyanate, and p-phenylene diisocyanate: Assignment of the cis and trans rotational isomers.

To assign cis and trans isomers of m-tolyl isocyanate (mTI) and p-phenylene diisocyanate (pPDI) in the electronic excitation transition, we measured the time-of-flight mass-selected resonant ionization spectra of jet-cooled phenyl isocyanate (PI), mTI, and pPDI in the region of the 275 nm first ππ* absorption system. In the excitation spectra of jet-cooled mTI and pPDI, cis- and trans-rotational isomers appeared as doublets. Isomers were assigned by analyzing the methyl-group internal rotation for mTI and by applying low-frequency bending vibrations to the mutual exclusion rule between the one- and two-photon spectra for pPDI. The electronic spectra of the three molecules observed in the jet were assigned to the transition to the first ππ* and third singlet excited states with the aid of time-dependent (TD)-B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ and TD-CAM-B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ calculations. The 0 - 0 band of PI was observed at 36 354 cm-1, those of the cis and trans isomers of mTI at 36 018 and 35 853 cm-1, respectively, and those of the cis and trans isomers of pPDI at 34 437 and 34 383 cm-1, respectively. All vibronic bands were diffuse, probably because of internal conversion to two singlet nπ* states. For mTI, based on changes in the barrier height of methyl-group internal rotation upon excitation, the Hammett-σm of PI was determined to be -0.12.

Observation of Evidence for the π*-σ* Hyperconjugation in the S1 State of o-, m-, and p-Fluorotoluenes by Double-Resonance Infrared Spectroscopy.

Drastic changes of the methyl internal rotation potential energy functions upon the electronic excitation have been reported for o- and m-fluorotolunes [ Okuyama , K. , Mikami , N. , and Ito , M. J. Phys. Chem. 1985 , 89 , 5617 - 5625 ], and their physical origin has been attributed to the π*-σ* hyperconjugation. To observe direct evidence of the π*-σ* hyperconjugation, double-resonance infrared spectroscopy was carried out in the CH stretching vibrational region in both the S0 and S1 states of jet-cooled o-, m-, and p-fluorotoluenes. In the spectra of both o- and m-fluorotoluenes, some of the methyl CH bands were red-shifted upon the electronic excitation while the residual CH bands stayed in the same frequency region. The normal-mode analysis demonstrated that the shift behavior correlates to the relative conformation between the methyl CH bond and the phenyl ring plane. This conformation-dependent methyl CH bond weakening clearly supports the presence of the π*-σ* hyperconjugation in o- and m-fluorotoluenes. The similar red-shift of the methyl CH bands upon the electronic excitation was seen also in p-fluorotoluene though the magnitude of the shift was much smaller. The mechanism of its internal rotation potential energy behavior, however, can be different from those of the o- and m-isomers.

Internal rotation of methyl group in electronically excited o- and m-ethynyltoluene: new correlation between the Hammett substituent constant σm and rotational barrier change.

We have determined the potential-energy function for the internal rotation of the methyl group for o- and m-ethynyltoluene in the electronic excited (S(1)) and ground (S(0)) states by measuring the fluorescence excitation and single-vibronic-level dispersed fluorescence spectra in a jet. The 0-0 bands were observed at 35 444 and 35 416 cm(-1), respectively. The methyl group in o-ethynyltoluene is shown to be a rigid rotor with a potential barrier to rotation of 190 ± 10 cm(-1) in both states. No change in the conformation occurred upon excitation. Barrier heights of m-ethynyltoluene in the S(0) and S(1) states are shown to be 19 ± 3 and 101 ± 1 cm(-1), respectively. A conformational change occurred with rotation by 60[ordinal indicator, masculine] upon excitation. The potential parameters were as follows: reduced rotational constant (B) of 5.323 cm(-1), centrifugal-distortion constant (D) of 6.481 × 10(-5) cm(-1), V(3) = 19 cm(-1), V(6) = -6 cm(-1), and V(9) = 0 cm(-1) in the S(0) state, and B = 5.015 cm(-1), D = 5.392 × 10(-5) cm(-1), V(3) = 101 cm(-1), V(6) = -22 cm(-1), and V(9) = -2 cm(-1) in the S(1) state. For m-methylstyrene, m-tolunitrile, and m-ethynyltoluene, which all have a multiple-bonded carbon in the substituent, we found a new correlation between the Hammett substituent constant σ(m) and the change in the barrier of the methyl group upon excitation.

Electronic spectra of jet-cooled isoindoline: spectroscopic determination of energy difference between conformational isomers.

The electronic spectra of jet-cooled isoindoline between the electronic ground (S(0)) state and the pi pi(*) lowest-excited singlet state (S(1)) were observed by the fluorescence excitation and single-vibronic-level dispersed fluorescence methods. The low-frequency progression due to the puckering vibration appeared in both spectra. Analysis of dispersed spectra together with geometry optimization at the level of B3LYP/6-311+G(d) indicated the presence of conformational isomers possessing axial and equatorial N-H bonds with respect to the molecular plane. The 0-0 bands of the axial and equatorial conformers were measured at 37,022 and 36,761 cm(-1), respectively. Three common levels in the S(1) state accessible from the respective S(0)-state zero levels were observed. From their transition frequencies, the S(0)-state energy difference between the isomers was determined to be 47.7+/-0.2 cm(-1), where the axial conformer was more stable. In the S(1) state, the energy difference was 213.7+/-0.2 cm(-1), and the equatorial conformer was more stable. The cause of switching from a stable conformation upon excitation is discussed in terms of the electron conjugation between the pi(*) orbital in benzene and the lone pair orbital of nitrogen.

S1-state internal conversion of isolated azulene derivatives.

The S0-S1 hole-burning spectra of azulene and its derivatives, 1-methyl, 2-methyl, 4-methyl, 1-cyano, and 2-cyanoazulenes, were measured under the isolated condition in order to gain an insight into the internal-conversion mechanism. The width of every 0-0 band was dependent on its transition energy and independent of the density of the S0-state vibrational levels isoenergetic to its zero level of the S1 state. On the contrary, the vibronic-band broadening of each molecule progressed in proportion to the vibrational excess energy of the S1 state. In the low-energy region, widths gradually increased, which is attributed to the normal internal conversion. A drastic increase was observed in the medium-energy region in azulene and three methyl derivatives but not in the two cyano ones. This is considered to be the onset of the relaxation process due to the conical intersection suggested by Bearpark et al. [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 169]. Anomalous width behavior was found for two vibronic bands whose widths were still narrow even above the onset. One was 0 + 2659 cm(-1) band of azulene, that had been already reported by Ruth et al. [Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 1999, 1, 5121], and we could reproduce it by the hole-burning method. Another was 0 + 2878 cm(-1) band of 2-methylazulene. This is the vibronic selectivity in competition between the relaxation process and the normal internal conversion. The amplitude vectors of these modes were similar, including the in-plane bending of the CH bond and the stretching of the transannular bond.

CH3 internal rotation in the S0 and S1 states of 9-methylanthracene.

Fluorescence excitation spectra and dispersed fluorescence spectra of jet-cooled 9-methylanthracene-h12 and -d12 (9MA-h12 and 9MA-d12) have been observed, and the energy levels of methyl internal rotation (CH3 torsion) in the S0 and S1 states have been analyzed. The molecular symmetry of 9MA is the same as that of toluene (G12). Because of two-fold symmetry in the pi system, the potential curve has six-fold barriers to CH3 rotation. In toluene, the barrier height to CH3 rotation V6 is very small, nearly free rotation. As for 9MA-h12, we could fit the level energies by potential curves with the barrier heights of V6(S0) = 118 cm(-1) and V6(S1) = 33 cm(-1). These barrier heights are remarkably larger than those of toluene and are attributed to hyperconjugation between the pi orbitals and methyl group. The dispersed fluorescence spectrum showed broad emission for the excitation of 0(0)(0) + 386 cm(-1) band, indicating that intramolecular vibrational redistribution efficiently occurs, even in the vibronic level of low excess energy of the isolated 9MA molecule.

Fluorescence and ultraviolet absorption spectra and structure of coumaran and its ring-puckering potential energy function in the S1(pi,pi*) excited state.

The fluorescence excitation (jet cooled), single vibrational level fluorescence, and the ultraviolet absorption spectra of coumaran associated with its S1(pi,pi*) electronic excited state have been recorded and analyzed. The assignment of more than 70 transitions has allowed a detailed energy map of both the S0 and S1 states of the ring-puckering (nu45) vibration to be determined in the excited states of nine other vibrations, including the ring-flapping (nu43) and ring-twisting (nu44) vibrations. Despite some interaction with nu43 and nu44, a one-dimensional potential energy function for the ring puckering very nicely predicts the experimentally determined energy level spacings. In the S1(pi,pi*) state coumaran is quasiplanar with a barrier to planarity of 34 cm(-1) and with energy minima at puckering angles of +/-14 degrees. The corresponding ground state (S0) values are 154 cm(-1) and +/-25 degrees . As is the case with the related molecules indan, phthalan, and 1,3-benzodioxole, the angle strain in the five-membered ring increases upon the pi-->pi* transition within the benzene ring and this increases the rigidity of the attached ring. Theoretical calculations predict the expected increases of the carbon-carbon bond lengths of the benzene ring in S1, and they predict a barrier of 21 cm(-1) for this state. The bond length increases at the bridgehead carbon-carbon bond upon electron excitation to the S1(pi,pi*) state give rise to angle changes which result in greater angle strain and a nearly planar molecule.

S0 ring-puckering potential energy function for coumaran.

With the aid of a reported inversion splitting value, the far-infrared spectrum resulting from the ring-puckering vibration of coumaran has been reassigned and the one-dimensional potential energy function has been determined. The barrier to planarity is 155 +/- 4 cm(-1) and the dihedral angle is 25 degrees . These results agree well with the millimeter wave spectra values of 152 cm(-1) and 23 degrees , which utilized different data and a different type of potential function for the calculations. The MP2/cc-pvtz ab initio values of 238 cm(-1) and 26.5 degrees agree more poorly. If the benzene ring is assumed to remain rigid, the calculated barrier drops to 204 cm(-1). The puckering potential functions for the ring-flapping and ring-twisting vibrationally excited states were also determined and the barriers were found to be 149 and 156 cm(-1), respectively.