The 2-cyclopenten-1-one molecule (2CP) is a cyclic conjugated enone that participates in a variety of photochemical reactions. Prior computational work indicates that the T1(n, π*) excited state of 2CP mediates relaxation processes that can lead to photoproducts. In this paper, we report the T1(n, π*) ← S0 vibronically resolved spectrum of 2CP, recorded in a supersonic free-jet expansion using resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) detection. The REMPI spectrum covers the region extending to +900 cm-1 with respect to the T1(n, π*) ← S0 origin band at 25,956 cm-1. Vibronic analysis of the REMPI spectrum yielded fundamental frequencies for eight vibrational modes in the T1(n, π*) state, including four modes that could not be observed in the jet-cooled phosphorescence excitation spectrum we reported previously. We observe that the out-of-plane, but not in-plane modes, undergo dramatic frequency reduction upon electronic excitation. This distinction sharpened our understanding of the π* ← n chromophore. We used the measured T1(n, π*) fundamental frequencies to test a computational method, termed coupled-cluster/density functional theory (CC/DFT) hybrid, that was developed by Puzzarini and Barone for predicting spectroscopic properties of medium-sized molecules (up to about 10 heavy atoms). In our implementation of CC/DFT, we employed the unrestricted coupled cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples (CCSD(T)) ab initio technique to calculate harmonic frequencies of the T1(n, π*) state of 2CP. We used second-order vibrational perturbation theory (VPT2) to obtain anharmonic corrections, in conjunction with anharmonic force constants computed using unrestricted DFT. The calculation predicts T1(n, π*) fundamental frequencies that deviate by only 8 cm-1, on average, from those measured in the REMPI spectrum. We used the CC/DFT results as a reference to evaluate the performance of more economical hybrid methods for predicting excited-state fundamentals. These methods incorporate equation-of-motion excitation energies coupled cluster singles and doubles (EOM-EE-CCSD) or time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) to calculate harmonic frequencies. Notably, the economical TDDFT approaches outperform the EOM-EE-CCSD ab initio technique in this application.

The 4H-pyran-4-one (4PN) molecule is a cyclic conjugated enone with spectroscopically accessible singlet and triplet (n,π*)excited states. Vibronic spectra of 4PN provide a stringent test of electronic-structure calculations, through comparison of predicted vs measured vibrational frequencies in the excited state. We report here the T1(n,π*) ← S0 phosphorescence excitation spectrum of 4PN, recorded under the cooling conditions of a supersonic free-jet expansion. The jet cooling has eliminated congestion appearing in previous room-temperature measurements of the T1 ← S0 band system and has enabled us to determine precise fundamental frequencies for seven vibrational modes of the molecule in its T1(n,π*) state. We have also analyzed the rotational contour of the 000 band, obtaining experimental values for spin-spin and spin-rotation constants of the T1(n,π*) state. We used the experimental results to test predictions from two commonly used computational methods, equation-of-motion excitation energies with dynamical correlation incorporated at the level of coupled cluster singles doubles (EOM-EE-CCSD) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). We find that each method predicts harmonic frequencies within a few percent of observed fundamentals, for in-plane vibrational modes. However, for out-of-plane modes, each method has specific liabilities that result in frequency errors on the order of 20-30%. The calculations have helped to identify a perturbation from the T2(π,π*) state that leads to unexpected features observed in the T1(n,π*) ← S0 origin band rotational contour.

The 4H-pyran-4-one (4PN) molecule serves as a model for investigating structural changes following π* ← n electronic excitation. We have recorded the cavity ringdown (CRD) absorption spectrum of 4PN vapor at room temperature, over the wavelength region from 350 to 370 nm. This spectral region includes the T1(n,π*) ← S0 band system as well as the low-energy portion of the S1(n,π*) ← S0 system. Aided by predictions from ab initio (equation-of-motion excitation energies with dynamical correlation incorporated at the level of coupled cluster singles doubles, EOM-EE-CCSD) and density functional theory (time-dependent density functional theory with PBE0 functional, TDPBE0) calculations, we have made vibronic assignments for about 30 features in the CRD spectrum, mostly T1(n,π*) ← S0 transitions. We have used these results to correct certain vibronic assignments appearing in the previous literature for both T1(n,π*) ← S0 and S1(n,π*) ← S0 band systems. We conclude that the lowest-energy carbonyl wagging fundamentals (ν27, in-plane and ν17, out-of-plane) undergo significant frequency drops (28 and 50%, respectively) upon T1(n,π*) ← S0 excitation and similar drops (29 and 39%, respectively) for S1(n,π*) ← S0 excitation. We find that vibrational modes involving the conjugated ring atoms undergo relatively small frequency changes upon π* ← n excitation, for both T1 and S1 states. We have used the present spectroscopic results and vibronic assignments to test the accuracy of computed excited-state frequencies for 4PN. This benchmarking process shows that the economical time-dependent density functional theory method is impressively accurate for certain (but not all) vibrational modes. The highly correlated EOM-EE-CCSD ab initio method is capable of making accurate frequency predictions, but the results, unexpectedly, depend sensitively on basis set family. This anomaly is traceable to a computed conical intersection between the T1(n,π*) and T2(π,π*) surfaces near the T1(n,π*) potential minimum. Relatively small errors in the location of the conical intersection lead to enhanced mixing of the two electronic states and incorrect T1(n,π*) vibrational frequencies when certain triple-ζ quality basis sets are used.

The 2-cyclohexen-1-one (2CHO) molecule serves as a prototype for understanding the photochemical properties of conjugated enones. We have recorded the cavity ringdown (CRD) absorption spectrum of 2CHO vapor at room temperature over the 360-380 nm range. This portion of the spectrum encompasses the S1(n,π*) ← S0 vibronic band system in the region of the C═C and C═O stretch fundamentals. We have assigned about 40 vibronically resolved features in the spectrum, affording fundamental frequencies for 7 different vibrational modes in the S1(n,π*) state, including the C═C (1554 cm-1) and OC-CH (1449 cm-1) stretch modes. The C═O stretch character is spread over at least four different vibrational modes in the S1(n,π*) state, with fundamentals spanning the 1340-1430 cm-1 interval. This finding stems from a significant reduction in C═O bond order upon excitation, which leads to near-coincidence of the C═O stretch and several CH2 wag frequencies. Such complexities make 2CHO an ideal candidate for testing excited-state computational methods. We have used the present spectroscopic results to test EOM-EE-CCSD harmonic-frequency predictions for the S1(n,π*) state. We have also benchmarked the performance of less costly computational methods, including CIS(D) and TDDFT. For certain density functionals (e.g., B3LYP and PBE0), we find that the accuracy of TDDFT frequency predictions can approach but not meet that of EOM-EE-CCSD.

Author Institution: Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-\mbox{Eau Claire}; Eau Claire, WI 54702

Author Institution: Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Eau Claire, WI 54702

The cavity ringdown absorption spectrum of acrolein (propenal, CH(2)=CH-CH=O) was recorded near 412 nm, under bulk-gas conditions at room temperature and in a free-jet expansion. The measured spectral region includes the 0(0)(0) band of the T(1)(n, π*) ← S(0) system. We analyzed the 0(0)(0) rotational contour by using the STROTA computer program [R. H. Judge et al., J. Chem. Phys. 103, 5343 (1995)], which incorporates an asymmetric rotor Hamiltonian for simulating and fitting singlet-triplet spectra. We used the program to fit T(1)(n, π*) inertial constants to the room-temperature contour. The determined values (cm(-1)), with 2σ confidence intervals, are A = 1.662 ± 0.003, B = 0.1485 ± 0.0006, C = 0.1363 ± 0.0004. Linewidth analysis of the jet-cooled spectrum yielded a value of 14 ± 2 ps for the lifetime of isolated acrolein molecules in the T(1)(n, π*), v = 0 state. We discuss the observed lifetime in the context of previous computational work on acrolein photochemistry. The spectroscopically derived inertial constants for the T(1)(n, π*) state were used to benchmark a variety of computational methods. One focus was on complete active space methods, such as complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) and second-order perturbation theory with a CASSCF reference function (CASPT2), which are applicable to excited states. We also examined the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster and time-dependent density function theory excited-state methods, and finally unrestricted ground-state techniques, including unrestricted density functional theory and unrestricted coupled-cluster theory with single and double and perturbative triple excitations. For each of the above methods, we or others [O. S. Bokareva et al., Int. J. Quantum Chem. 108, 2719 (2008)] used a triple zeta-quality basis set to optimize the T(1)(n, π*) geometry of acrolein. We find that the multiconfigurational methods provide the best agreement with fitted inertial constants, while the economical unrestricted Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof exchange-correlation hybrid functional (UPBE0) technique performs nearly as well.

The cavity ringdown (CRD) absorption spectrum of 2-cyclohexen-1-one (2CHO) was recorded over the range 401.5-410.5 nm in a room-temperature gas cell. The very weak band system (ε ≤ 0.1 M(-1) cm(-1)) in this spectral region is due to the T1(n, π*) ← S0 electronic transition. The 0(0)(0) origin band was assigned to the feature observed at 24,558.8 ± 0.3 cm(-1). We have assigned 46 vibronic transitions in a region extending from -200 to +350 cm(-1) relative to the origin band. For the majority of these transitions, we have made corresponding assignments in the spectrum of the deuterated derivative 2CHO-2,6,6-d3. From the assignments, we determined fundamental frequencies for several vibrational modes in the T1(n, π*) excited state of 2CHO, including the lowest ring-twisting (99.6 cm(-1)) and ring-bending (262.2 cm(-1)) modes. These values compare to fundamentals of 122.2 cm(-1) and 251.9 cm(-1), respectively, determined previously for the isoconfigurational S1(n, π*) excited state of 2CHO and 99 cm(-1) and 248 cm(-1), respectively, for the S0 ground state. With the aid of quantum-mechanical calculations, we have also ascertained descriptions for these two modes, thereby resolving ambiguities appearing in the previous literature. The ring-twisting mode (ν39) contains a significant contribution from O=C-C=C torsion, whereas the ring-bending mode (ν38 in the ground state) involves mainly the motion of C-5 with respect to the plane containing the other heavy atoms. The CRD spectroscopic data for the T1(n, π*) state have allowed us to benchmark several computational methods for treating excited states, including time-dependent density functional theory and an equation-of-motion coupled cluster method. In turn, the computational results provide an explanation for observed differences in the T1(n, π*) vs. S1(n, π*) ring frequencies.

Author Institution: Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Eau Claire, WI 54702

Author Institution: Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Eau Claire, WI 54702

The cavity ringdown absorption spectrum of 4-cyclopentene-1,3-dione was recorded near 487 nm in a room-temperature gas cell. The very weak band system (epsilon approximate to 0.05 dm(3) mol(-1) cm(-1)) in this region is due to the T-1(n,pi*) <- S-0 electronic transition. The origin-band maximum was observed at 20 540.0 +/- 0.5 cm(-1). We have assigned about 40 vibronically resolved bands in a region extending to +1100 cm(-1) relative to the origin. Assignments were aided by quantum-chemical calculations of the T-1 <- S-0 0-0 excitation energy as well as ground-state vibrational frequencies. From the CRD spectral assignments, we determined fundamental frequencies for several vibrational modes in the T-1 excited state, including the lowest-energy ring-bending and -twisting modes, nu'(19) (b(1)) and nu'(14) (a(2)), respectively. Their fundamentals in the T, state are 160.5 and 246 cm(-1), compared to 99 and 239 cm(-1), respectively, in the So ground state. The increases in these ring frequencies upon electronic excitation signify that the nominal n -> pi* chromophore is delocalized to include the conjugated ring atoms. The extent of this delocalization is different in the T-1(n,pi*) vs S-1(n,pi*) excited states. This conclusion is based on observed differences in T-1 vs S-1 ring fundamental frequencies.

The phosphorescence excitation (PE) spectrum of 4H-pyran-4-one (4PN) vapor at 40-50 degrees C was recorded near 366 nm. The most intense vibronic feature in this region of the spectrum is the T(1)(n,pi*)<--S(0) origin band. The value of nu(0) for the 0(0)(0) transition was determined to be 27 291.5 cm(-1) by comparing the observed spectrum to a simulation in the T(1)<--S(0) origin-band region. Attached to the origin band in the PE spectrum are several Deltav=0 sequence bands involving low-frequency ring modes. From the positions of these bands, together with the known ground-state combination differences, fundamental frequencies for nu(18') (ring bending), nu(13') (ring twisting), and nu(10') (in-plane ring deformation) in the T(1)(n,pi*) excited state were determined to be 126, 269, and 288 cm(-1), respectively. These values represent drops of 15%, 32%, and 43%, compared to the respective fundamental frequencies in the S(0) state. The changes in these ring frequencies indicate that the effects of T(1)(n,pi*)<--S(0) excitation extend beyond the nominal carbonyl chromophore and involve the conjugated ring atoms as well. The delocalization may be more extensive for T(1)(n,pi*) than for S(1)(n,pi*) excitation.