Excitonic Coupling in Fluorene-Based Bichromophoric Systems: Vibrational Quenching and the Transition from Weak to Intermediate Coupling.

Excimeric systems (i.e., excited dimers) have well served as model compounds for the study of the delocalization of electronic energy over weakly interacting chromophores.

Probing cooperativity in C-H⋯N and C-H⋯π interactions: Dissociation energies of aniline⋯(CH) (n = 1, 2) van der Waals complexes from resonant ionization and velocity mapped ion imaging measurements.

Recent studies of the weakly bound anisole⋯CH complex found a dual mode of binding, featuring both C/H⋯π and C/H⋯O noncovalent interactions. In this work, we examine the dissociation energies of related aniline⋯(CH) (n = 1, 2) van der Waals clusters, where both C/H⋯π and C/H⋯N interactions are possible. Using a combination of theory and experiments that include mass-selected two-color resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy, two-color appearance potential (2CAP) measurements, and velocity-mapped ion imaging (VMI), we derive the dissociation energies of both complexes in the ground (S), excited (S), and cation radical (D) states.

Gas-Phase Optical Detection of 3-Ethynylcyclopentenyl: A Resonance-Stabilized CH Radical with an Embedded 1-Vinylpropargyl Chromophore.

The 3-ethynylcyclopentenyl radical (3ecpr) has been identified as the carrier of an electronic spectrum with origin at 21792 cm using resonant ionization and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopies. The radical was first detected in a toluene discharge and is most efficiently produced from 1,6-heptadiyne. Overwhelming spectroscopic and chemical evidence support our diagnosis: (1) the observed (6.

C-H/π and C-H-O Interactions in Concert: A Study of the Anisole-Methane Complex using Resonant Ionization and Velocity Mapped Ion Imaging.

Noncovalent forces such as hydrogen bonding, halogen bonding, π-π stacking, and C-H/π and C-H/O interactions hold the key to such chemical processes as protein folding, molecular self-assembly, and drug-substrate interactions. Invaluable insight into the nature and strength of these forces continues to come from the study of isolated molecular clusters. In this work, we report on a study of the isolated anisole-methane complex, where both C-H/π and C-H/O interactions are possible, using a combination of theory and experiments that include mass-selected two-color resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy, two-color appearance potential (2CAP) measurements, and velocity mapped ion imaging (VMI).

- stacking vs. C-H/ interaction: Excimer formation and charge resonance stabilization in van der Waals clusters of 9,9'-dimethylfluorene.

Studies of exciton and hole stabilization in multichromophoric systems underpin our understanding of electron transfer and transport in materials and biomolecules. The simplest model systems are dimeric, and recently we compared the gas-phase spectroscopy and dynamics of van der Waals dimers of fluorene, 9-methylfluorene (MF), and 9,9'-dimethylfluorene (F1) to assess how sterically controlled facial encumbrance modulates the dynamics of excimer formation and charge resonance stabilization (CRS). Dimers of fluorene and MF show only excimer emission upon electronic excitation, and significant CRS as evidenced in a reduced ionization potential for the dimer relative the monomer.

The Role of Torsional Dynamics on Hole and Exciton Stabilization in π-Stacked Assemblies: Design of Rigid Torsionomers of a Cofacial Bifluorene.

Exciton and charge delocalization across π-stacked assemblies is of importance in biological systems and functional polymeric materials. To examine the requirements for exciton and hole stabilization, cofacial bifluorene (F2) torsionomers were designed, synthesized, and characterized: unhindered (model) F2, sterically hindered F2, and cyclophane-like F2, where fluorenes are locked in a perfect sandwich orientation via two methylene linkers. This set of bichromophores with varied torsional rigidity and orbital overlap shows that exciton stabilization requires a perfect sandwich-like arrangement, as seen by strong excimeric-like emission only in F2 and F2.

Strength of π-Stacking, from Neutral to Cation: Precision Measurement of Binding Energies in an Isolated π-Stacked Dimer.

π-Stacking interactions are ubiquitious across chemistry and biochemistry, impacting areas from organic materials and photovoltaics to biochemistry and DNA. However, experimental data is lacking regarding the strength of π-stacking forces-an issue not settled even for the simplest model system, the isolated benzene dimer. Here, we use two-color appearance potential measurements to determine the binding energies of the isolated, π-stacked dimer of fluorene (CH) in ground, excited, and ionic states.

Interconversion of Methyltropyl and Xylyl Radicals: A Pathway Unavailable to the Benzyl-Tropyl Rearrangement.

The products of an electrical discharge containing toluene are interrogated using resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopies. A previously unreported electronic spectrum recorded at m/z = 105, with a putative origin band at 26053 cm, is assigned to methyltropyl radical, which appears to be a major product of the toluene discharge, plausibly arising from CH insertion. All three o-, m-, and p-xylyl isomers are also identified.

Characterization of the [18.28]0-aΔ (0,0) band of tantalum nitride, TaN.

The [18.28]0-aΔ (0,0) band near 647 nm of tantalum nitride, TaN, has been recorded and analyzed field-free and in the presence of static electric and magnetic fields. The fine and hyperfine parameters for the aΔ and [18.

Cofacially Arrayed Polyfluorenes: Spontaneous Formation of π-Stacked Assemblies in the Gas Phase.

Understanding geometrical and size dependencies of through-space charge delocalization in multichromophoric systems is critical to model electron transfer and transport in materials and biomolecules. In this work, we examine the size evolution of hole delocalization in van der Waals clusters of fluorene (i.e.

Detection and characterization of singly deuterated silylene, SiHD, via optical spectroscopy.

Singly deuterated silylene has been detected and characterized in the gas-phase using high-resolution, two-dimensional, optical spectroscopy. Rotationally resolved lines in the 00 (0)X̃(1)A(')→Ã(1)A(″) band are assigned to both c-type perpendicular transition and additional parallel, axis-switching induced bands. The extracted rotational constants were combined with those for SiH2 and SiD2 to determine an improved equilibrium bond length, rSiH, and bond angle, θ, of 1.

Cationic Methylene-Pyrene Isomers and Isomerization Pathways: Finite Temperature Theoretical Studies.

This paper provides spectral characterizations of the two isomers of the 1-methylenepyrene cation, namely, the 1-pyrenemethylium and a pyrene-like isomer owing a tropylium cycle. Both are possible photodissociation products of the 1-methylpyrene cation and were proposed as potential contributors to the diffuse interstellar bands. In that respect, vibrational and electronic spectra are computed for the optimized structures at the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent (TD-)DFT levels.

Au-S Bonding Revealed from the Characterization of Diatomic Gold Sulfide, AuS.

Gold monosulfide, AuS, has been detected and characterized in the gas phase using optical spectroscopy. The symmetries of the ground and low-lying electronic excited states have been determined by application of a synergy of hot and cold laser excitation techniques. The electronic spectra are assigned to progressions in four band systems associated with excitations from the X(2)Πi ((2σ)(2)(2π)(3)) ground state to the A(2)Σ(+) state arising from the (2σ)(1)(2π)(4) configuration and to the a(4)Σ(-), B(2)Σ(-), and C(2)Δi states arising from the (2σ)(2)(2π)(2)(3σ*)(1) configuration.

Detection of the Thorium Dimer via Two-Dimensional Fluorescence Spectroscopy.

Thorium dimer, Th2, has been detected in the gas phase via two-dimensional laser-induced fluorescence electronic spectroscopy. The visible excitation spectra are broad, unstructured features with an approximate line width of 10 cm(-1). The spectrum consists of vibrational progressions associated with excitation from the ground electronic state to two different excited electronic states.

Communication: The ground electronic state of Si2C: Rovibrational level structure, quantum monodromy, and astrophysical implications.

We report the gas-phase optical detection of Si2C near 390 nm and the first experimental investigation of the rovibrational structure of its (1)A1 ground electronic state using mass-resolved and fluorescence spectroscopy and variational calculations performed on a high-level ab initio potential. From this joint study, it is possible to assign all observed Ka = 1 vibrational levels up to 3800 cm(-1) with confidence, as well as a number of levels in the Ka = 0, 2,  and 3 manifolds. Dixon-dip plots for the bending coordinate (ν2) allow an experimental determination of a barrier to linearity of 783(48) cm(-1) (2σ), in good agreement with theory (802(9) cm(-1)).

Photoionization of cold gas phase coronene and its clusters: autoionization resonances in monomer, dimer, and trimer and electronic structure of monomer cation.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are key species encountered in a large variety of environments such as the Interstellar Medium (ISM) and in combustion media. Their UV spectroscopy and photodynamics in neutral and cationic forms are important to investigate in order to learn about their structure, formation mechanisms, and reactivity. Here, we report an experimental photoelectron-photoion coincidence study of a prototypical PAH molecule, coronene, and its small clusters, in a molecular beam using the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photons provided by the SOLEIL synchrotron facility.

Jet-cooled spectroscopy of the α-methylbenzyl radical: probing the state-dependent effects of methyl rocking against a radical site.

The state-dependent spectroscopy of α-methylbenzyl radical (α-MeBz) has been studied under jet-cooled conditions. Two-color resonant two-photon ionization (2C-R2PI), laser-induced fluorescence, and dispersed fluorescence spectra were obtained for the D0-D1 electronic transition of this prototypical resonance-stabilized radical in which the methyl group is immediately adjacent to the primary radical site. Extensive Franck-Condon activity in hindered rotor levels was observed in the excitation spectrum, reflecting a reorientation of the methyl group upon electronic excitation.

On the molecular structure of HOOO.

The molecular structure of trans, planar hydridotrioxygen (HOOO) has been examined by means of isotopic spectroscopy using Fourier transform microwave as well as microwave-millimeter-wave double resonance techniques, and high-level coupled cluster quantum-chemical calculations. Although this weakly bound molecule is readily observed in an electrical discharge of H(2)O and O(2) heavily diluted in an inert buffer gas, we find that HOOO can be produced with somewhat higher abundance using H(2) and O(2) as precursor gases. Using equal mixtures of normal and (18)O(2), it has been possible to detect three new isotopic species, H(18)OOO, HO(18)O(18)O, and H(18)O(18)O(18)O.

Spectroscopic observation of the resonance-stabilized 1-phenylpropargyl radical.

The gas-phase laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectrum of a 1-phenylpropargyl radical has been identified in the region 20,800-22,000 cm(-1) in a free jet. The radical was produced from discharges of hydrocarbons including benzene. Disregarding C2, C3, and CH, this radical appears as the most strongly fluorescing product in a visible wavelength two-dimensional fluorescence excitation-emission spectrum of a jet-cooled benzene discharge.

Gas phase spectra of all-benzenoid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: triphenylene.

The jet-cooled laser-induced fluorescence and dispersed fluorescence spectra of the S1(A1')<--S0(A1') transition of triphenylene are reported. The spectra exhibit false origins of e' symmetry which are modeled by performing calculations of Herzberg-Teller coupling using time-dependent density functional theory. It is found that this level of theory reproduces the main features of the observed spectra.

Oscillator strengths and radiative lifetimes for C2: Swan, Ballik-Ramsay, Phillips, and d 3Pig<--c 3Sigmau+ systems.

High level ab initio calculations, using multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) techniques, have been carried out to investigate the spectroscopic properties of the singlet A 1Piu<--X 1Sigmag+ Phillips, the triplet d 3Pig<--a 3Sigmau Swan, the b 3Sigmag-<--a 3Piu Ballik-Ramsay, and the d 3Pig<--c 3Sigmau+ transitions of C2. The MRCI expansions are based on full-valence complete active space self-consistent-field reference states and utilize the aug-cc-pV6Z basis set to resolve valence electron correlation. Core and core-valence correlations and scalar relativistic energy corrections were also incorporated in the computed potential energy surfaces.

On the electronic properties of dehydrogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The electronic excited-state properties of a series of dehydrogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from phenyl through to decacyl are reported. The radicals were investigated by use of time-dependent density functional theory in conjunction with the B3LYP functional. The pi and n orbitals were seen to converge in energy as the system increased in size, yet all radicals were found to have A' ground states.