The UV photodissociation of bromo-3-fluorobenzene under collisionless conditions has been studied as a function of the excitation wavelength between 255 and 265 nm. The experiments were performed using ultrafast pump-probe laser spectroscopy. To aid in the interpretation of the results, it was necessary to extend the theoretical framework substantially compared to previous studies, to also include quantum dynamical simulations employing a two-dimensional nuclear Hamiltonian. The nonadiabatic potential energy surfaces (PES) were parameterized against high-level MS-CASTP2 quantum chemical calculations, using both the C-Br distance and the out-of-plane bending of the bromine as nuclear parameters. We show that the wavelength dependence of the photodissociation via the S0-->1pipi*-->1pisigma* channel, accessible with a approximately 260 nm pulse, is captured in this model. We thereby present the first correlation between experiments and theory within the quantitative regime.

This thesis presents Quantum Chemical calculations on the Photochemistry of Halogenated benzenes, Phytochromobilin, Ruthenium Polypyridyl complexes and 6-4 photoadducts in DNA. The work is focused on improving the understanding of a number of experimentally observed photochemical processes in these systems. New results regarding the mechanism of photodissociation of halogenated arenes, photointerconversion of phytochromobilin are presented, as well as of the photoprocesses of Ruthenium Polypyridyl complexes and new mechanistic insights in the repair of 6-4 photoadducts in DNA.

The potential energy surfaces of the first excited triplet state of some ruthenium polypyridyl complexes were investigated by means of density functional theory. Focus was placed on the interaction between the geometrical changes accompanying the photoactivity of these complexes when used as antenna complexes in artificial photosynthesis and dye-sensitized solar cells and the accompanying changes in electronic structure. The loss process (MLCT)-M-3 -> (MC)-M-3 can be understood by means of ligand-field splitting, traced down to the coordination of the central ruthenium atom.

Quantum chemical calculations aimed at identifying the factors controlling the acidity of phytochromobilin, the tetrapyrrole chromophore of the plant photoreceptor phytochrome, are reported. Phytochrome is converted from an inactive (Pr) to an active form (Pfr) through a series of events initiated by a Z -> E photoisomerization of phytochromobilin, forming the Lumi-R intermediate, and much controversy exists as to whether the protonation state of the chromophore (cationic in Pr with all nitrogens protonated) changes during the photoactivation. Here, relative ground (S-0) and excited-state (S-1) pK(a)s of all four pyrrole moieties of phytochromobilin in all 64 possible configurations with respect to the three methine bridges are calculated in a protein-like environment, using a recently benchmarked level of theory. Accordingly, the relationships between acidity and chromophore geometry and charge distribution, hydrogen bonding, and light absorption are investigated in some detail, and discussed in terms of possible mechanisms making a proton transfer reaction more probable along the Pr -> Pfr reaction than in the parent cationic Pr state. It is found that charge distribution in the cationic species, intra-molecular hydrogen bonding in the neutral, and hydrogen bonding with two highly conserved aspartate and histidine residues have a significant effect on the acidity, while overall chromophore geometry and electronic state are less important factors. Furthermore, based on the calculations, two processes that may facilitate a proton transfer by substantially lowering the pK(a)s relative to their Pr values are identified: (i) a thermal Z,anti -> Z,syn isomerization at C5, occurring after formation of Lumi-R; (ii) a perturbation of the hydrogen bonding network which in Pr comprises the nitrogens of pyrroles A, B and C and the two aspartate and histidine residues.

Dissociation of chlorobenzene via the lowest singlet excited state has been investigated by means of pump–probe femtosecond spectroscopy and spin–orbit corrected ab initio quantum chemistry. We have found that the so far accepted model with a 1ππ∗ → 3π/nσ∗ reaction mechanism has to be amended. We suggest that the mechanism goes via a transition from 1ππ∗ to a πσ∗ state that is to 90% a singlet. Further, three nuclear degrees of freedom required to describe the dissociation have been defined.

The conversion of the plant photoreceptor phytochrome from an inactive (Pr) to an active form (Pfr) is accomplished by a red-light induced Z -> E photoisomerization of its phytochromobilin chromophore. In recent years, the question whether the photoactivation involves a change in chromophore protonation state has been the subject of many experimental studies. Here, we have used quantum chemical methods to calculate relative ground and excited-state pK(a) values of the different pyrrole moieties of phytochromobilin in a protein-like environment. Assuming (based on experimental data) a Pr ZaZsZa chromophore and considering isomerizations at C15 and C5, it is found that moieties B and C are the strongest acids both in the ground state and in the bright first singlet excited state, which is rationalized in simple geometric and electronic terms. It is also shown that neither light absorption nor isomerization increases the acidity of phytochromobilin relative to the reference Pr state with all pyrrolenic nitrogens protonated. Hence, provided that the subset of chromophore geometries under investigation is biologically relevant, there appears to be no intrinsic driving force for a proton-transfer event. In a series of benchmark calculations, the performance of ab initio and time-dependent density functional theory methods for excited-state studies of phytochromobilin is evaluated in light of available experimental data.

The C-Br photo-fragmentation of bromo-3,5-difluorobenzene (Br-3,5-diFBz) has been investigated using ab initio methods. A reaction coordinate combining a carbon-bromine bond stretch and a bromine out-of-plane bending on the S-1 surface has been found with an activation energy of 2.96 kcal/mol, compatible with the observed picosecond time scale. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The mechanism employed by DNA photolyase to repair 6-4 photoproducts in UV-damaged DNA is explored by means of quantum chemical calculations. Considering the repair of both oxetane and azetidine lesions, it is demonstrated that reduction as well as oxidation enables a reversion reaction by creating anionic or cationic radicals that readily fragment into monomeric pyrimidines. However, on the basis of calculated reaction energies indicating that electron transfer from the enzyme to the lesion is a much more favorable process than electron transfer in the opposite direction, it is suggested that the photoenzymic repair can only occur by way of an anionic mechanism. Furthermore, it is shown that reduction of the oxetane facilitates a mechanism involving cleavage of the C-O bond followed by cleavage of the C-C bond, whereas reductive fragmentation of the azetidine may proceed with either of the intermonomeric C-N and C-C bonds cleaved as the first step. From calculations on neutral azetidine radicals, a significant increase in the free-energy barrier for the initial fragmentation step upon protonation of the carbonylic oxygens is predicted. This effect can be attributed to protonation serving to stabilize reactant complexes more than transition structures.

Quantum chemical calculations have been used to model dye-sensitized nanostructured titanium dioxide systems that can be used in solar cells for solar energy to electricity conversion. Structural, electronic and spectral properties of isolated dyes and both bare and dye-sensitized TiO2 have been calculated with density functional theory, providing detailed information about both the separate parts and the dye-TiO2 interface.The connection between the geometry, the ligand field splitting and the lifetime of the triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited state has been explored for a series of ruthenium polypyridyl dyes. Moreover, the relative energetics of MLCT and metal centered triplet excited states have been studied for a number of such systems. It was found that small alterations of the polypyridyl ligands can result in significant changes in ligand field splitting and in the energetics of the triplet states.Attachment of the dyes to the TiO2 surface is achieved via anchor and spacer groups. The influence of such groups on various properties of the dye and their ability to act as mediators of photo-induced surface electron transfer has been studied. Delocalization of the lowest unoccupied dye orbital onto the spacer and/or anchor group indicates that certain unsaturated groups can mediate electron transfer.With a combination of methods that enables efficient computations and a scheme for construction of metal oxide clusters, chemical models for bare TiO2 nanocrystals in the 1-2 nm size range have been developed. The electronic structures show well-developed band structures with essentially no electronic band gap defect states.Atomistic models of the interface between TiO2 nanocrystals and Ru(II)-bis-terpyridine dyes, the so-called N3 dye as well as perylene dyes are reported. Electronic coupling strengths, which provide estimates for the electron injection times, are extracted from the interfacial electronic structure and the lowest electronic excitations are calculated.

The photochemistry of low lying excited states of six different fluorinated bromobenzenes has been investigated by means of femtosecond laser spectroscopy and high level ab initio CASSCF/CASPT2 quantum chemical calculations. The objective of the work was to investigate how and to what extent light substituents, position on the benzene ring and number, would influence the dissociation mechanism of bromobenzene. In general, the actual position of a fluorine atom affects the dissociation rate to a less extent than the number of fluorine atoms. A clear connection between a lowering of a repulsive pisigma relative to a bound pipi state and the number of fluorine substituents exists, and the previously suggested model of coupling between dissociation rate and relative location of bound and repulsive state still holds for these molecules. A more elaborate examination of the electronic structure of the excited states in bromobenzenes than previously reported is presented.

The photoactivation of the plant photoreceptor phytochrome is governed by a red-light-induced C15-Z→C15-E isomerization of the tetrapyrrolic chromophore phytochromobilin. From the viewpoint of experimental studies, ambiguity prevails as to whether the photoactivation involves a proton transfer from the chromophore to the surrounding protein. Here, we report a theoretical study addressing the effect of phytochromobilin protonation state on its photoisomerization by means of quantum chemical calculations. It is found that neutral forms of the chromophore are much less likely to photoisomerize than the parent, protonated form – a finding which supports the view that phytochromobilin remains protonated during phytochrome photoactivation.

The C15-Z,syn-->C15-E,anti isomerization of phytochromobilin that underlies the photoactivation of phytochrome, the plant photoreceptor responsive to red and far-red light, is investigated by means of quantum chemical methods. By calculating ground and excited-state potential energy surfaces for a phytochromobilin model comprising the full tetrapyrrolic skeleton, and taking into consideration rotations around the C14-C15 and C15=C16 bonds constituting the methine bridge between pyrrole rings C and D, it is found that a stepwise Z-->E, syn-->anti mechanism is energetically preferable over a concerted Z,syn-->E,anti mechanism. In particular, on the basis of the calculated potential energy surfaces, it is proposed that the primary photochemical reaction involves a Z-->E isomerization only, and that the subsequent syn-->anti isomerization proceeds thermally.