Infrared and Raman spectra of 4-(dimethylamino)benzonitrile and isotopomers in the ground state and vibrational analysis

Charge-transfer and isomerization reactions of trans-4-(N-arylamino)stilbenes

We studied the excited-state dynamics of trans-4-(N-arylamino)stilbenes with aryl = phenyl (p1H), 4-methoxyphenyl (p1OM), or 4-cyanophenyl (p1CN) in solvents of varied polarity and viscosity by using femtosecond transient absorption and time-correlated single photon counting techniques. In nonpolar solvents the decay is triexponential, in which the rapid component corresponds to vibrational cooling combined with solvation, the intermediate temporal component 41-120 ps to trans-cis isomerization, and the long one ∼1 ns to fluorescence decay of the S₁ state. The S₁ state has a delocalized geometry and charge-transfer characteristics, corresponding to a planar intramolecular charge transfer (PICT) state. In polar solvents, an excited-state absorption band appears near 520 and 480 nm for p1OM and p1CN, respectively but not for p1H. This band has a rise lifetime of 4.3/7.5, 16.3/9.4, and 29.5/16 ps for p1CN/p1OM in acetonitrile (ACN), dimethylformamide (DMF), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), respectively and matches the decay of the 600 nm PICT band. This band is thus assigned to the absorption of a singlet twisted intramolecular charge transfer state (TICT). The conversion rate decreases as the solvent viscosity is increased and is consistent with a large structural variation amplitude. Theoretical calculations using density functional theory (DFT), method PEB0, were employed to obtain the optimized structures and energies of those states. The PICT state possesses delocalized π electrons along the molecule. The TICT for p1CN is formed by twisting about the aminostilbene-benzonitrile C-N bond by ∼90°, but it is about the stilbene-aniline C-N bond for p1OM. We observed faster conversion rates for p1CN in alcoholic solvents, in which the lifetimes for both the PICT and TICT states are shortened to 20-99 ps and 120-660 ps, respectively, as a result of solvent-solute H-bonding interactions. In p1OM, the TICT state has an elongated C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bond in the stilbene moiety, which might facilitate the trans-cis isomerization reaction and thus account for the relatively short lifetime of 58-420 ps in polar solvents.

FT-IR, FT-Raman spectra and other molecular properties of 3,5-dichlorobenzonitrile: a DFT study

The IR and Raman spectra of 3,5-dichlorobenzonitrile (3,5-DCBN) molecule were recorded at room temperature and then the assignment of the observed fundamental bands were achieved by the aid of the theoretical vibrational spectral data obtained from a quantum chemical study carried out for the free molecule case. In the calculations performed to determine the molecular geometry, vibrational spectral data and thermodynamic parameters, Møller-Plesset second order perturbation theory (MP2) and hybrid Density Functional Theory (DFT) types of electronic structure methods, B3LYP and B3PW91, were used. The overestimations of the calculated harmonic wavenumbers were efficiently corrected by the aid of a specific scaling procedure. This empirical scaling process significantly increased the reliability of our assignments and analyses on the observed bands due to different vibrational normal modes of the molecule. For the majority of the normal modes, the deviations between the corresponding experimental and scaled theoretical wavenumbers have located in the expected range. A correct characterization of the normal modes is of vital importance in the assignment of the observed bands, and this was successfully done by the aid of the Potential Energy Distributions (PEDs) separately calculated for each normal mode of 3,5-DCBN.

Structural conformations and density functional study on the intramolecular charge transfer based on vibrational spectra of 2,4-dihydroxy-N'-(4-methoxybenzylidene)benzohydrazide

The NIR-FT Raman and FT-IR spectra of 2,4-dihydroxy-N'-(methoxybenzylidene) benzohydrazide (DMBBH) molecule have been recorded and analyzed. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level has been used to compute energies of different conformers of DMBBH to find out their stability, the optimized geometry of the most stable conformer and its vibrational spectrum. Information about the size, shape, charge density distribution and site of chemical reactivity of the molecules has been obtained by mapping electron density isosurface with electrostatic potential surfaces (ESP). A complete vibrational analysis has been attempted on the basis of experimental infrared and Raman spectra and calculated vibrational modes and potential energy distribution over the internal coordinates. The vibrational analysis confirm the charge transfer interaction between the phenyl rings through C=N-N skeleton. The broadening of the band at 1631 cm(-1) and the appearance of the band at 1556 cm(-1) strongly suggests the existence of proton equilibrium.

Vibrational analysis of 4-chloro-3-nitrobenzonitrile by quantum chemical calculations

In the present study, the experimental and theoretical harmonic and anharmonic vibrational frequencies of 4-chloro-3-nitrobenzonitrile were investigated. The experimental FT-IR (400-4000 cm(-1)) and μ-Raman spectra (100-4000 cm(-1)) of the molecule in the solid phase were recorded. Theoretical vibrational frequencies and geometric parameters (bond lengths and bond angles) were calculated using ab initio Hartree Fock (HF), density functional B3LYP and M06-2X methods with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set by Gaussian 09 W program, for the first time. The assignments of the vibrational frequencies were performed by potential energy distribution (PED) analysis by using VEDA 4 program. The theoretical optimized geometric parameters and vibrational frequencies were compared with the corresponding experimental data, and they were seen to be in a good agreement with each other. Also, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies were found.

Quantum chemical studies and vibrational analysis of 4-acetyl benzonitrile, 4-formyl benzonitrile and 4-hydroxy benzonitrile--a comparative study

The FTIR and FT-Raman vibrational spectra of 4-actetyl benzonitrile, 4-formyl benzonitrile and 4-hydroxy benzonitrile molecules have been recorded in the range 4000-400 and 4000-100 cm(-1), respectively. The complete vibrational assignment and analysis of the fundamental modes of the most stable geometry of the compounds were carried out using the experimental FTIR and FT-Raman data on the basis of peak positions, relative intensities and quantum chemical studies. The observed vibrational frequencies were compared with the theoretical wavenumbers of the optimised geometry of the compounds obtained from the DFT-B3LYP gradient calculations employing the standard 6-31G**, high level 6-311++G** and cc-pVDZ basis sets. The structural parameters and vibrational wavenumbers obtained from the DFT methods are in good agreement with the experimental data. With hope of providing more and effective information on the fundamental vibrations, total energy distributions of the fundamental modes have been performed by assuming C(s) point group symmetry. The effect of substituents -COCH(3), -CHO and -OH in the benzonitrile moiety have been analysed and compared. The kinetic and thermodynamic stability and chemical hardness of the molecule have been determined.

Vibrational spectra and first order hyperpolarizability studies of dimethyl amino pyridinium 4-nitrophenolate 4-nitrophenol

Vibrational spectra of the organic nonlinear optical crystallized dimethyl amino pyridinium 4-nitrophenolate 4-nitrophenol have been recorded and analyzed. The spectral interpretation has been done based on the density functional theory using the standard B3LYP/LANL2DZ basis set. Total energy distribution is calculated using the scaled quantum mechanic program. Natural bond orbital analysis is also used to explain the inter and intra molecular hydrogen bonding. The relative second harmonic efficiency of the compound is found to be 15 times greater than that of KDP. The effect of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the phenolate ion of 4-nitrophenol with N-atom of pyridine ring is sufficiently more, enhancing the β value which is the required property of a system to be NLO active.

Ground and Excited State Resonance Raman Spectra of an Azacrown-Substituted [(bpy)Re(CO)3L]+ Complex: Characterization of Excited States, Determination of Structure and Bonding, and Observation of Metal Cation Release from the Azacrown

A [(bpy)Re(CO)3L+] complex (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) in which L contains a phenyl-azacrown ether that is attached to Re via an amidopyridyl linking group has been studied by steady state and nanosecond time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy. Vibrational band assignments have been aided by studies of model complexes in which a similar electron-donating dimethylamino group replaces the azacrown or in which an electron-donor group is absent, and by density functional theory calculations. The ground state resonance Raman spectra show nu(bpy) and nu(CO) bands of the (bpy)Re(CO)3 group when excitation is exclusively in resonance with the Re --> bpy metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transition, whereas L ligand bands are dominant when it is in resonance with the strong intra-ligand charge-transfer (ILCT) transition present for L ligands with electron-donor groups. Transient resonance Raman (RR) spectra obtained on single color (385 nm) pulsed excitation of the complexes in which an electron-donor group is absent show bpy*- bands of the MLCT excited state, whereas those of the complexes with electron-donor groups show both bpy*- bands and a down-shifted nu(CO) band that together are characteristic of an L-to-bpy ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer (LLCT) excited state. Samples in which a metal cation (Li+, Na+, Ca2+, Ba2+) is bound to the azacrown in the ground state show bands from both excited states, consistent with a mechanism in which the LLCT state forms after metal cation release from the MLCT state. Nanosecond time-resolved RR spectra from two-color (355 nm pump, 500 nm probe) experiments on the electron-donor systems show L-ligand bands characteristic of the LLCT state; the same bands are observed from samples in which a metal cation is bound to the azacrown in the ground state, and their time dependence is consistent with the proposed mechanism in which the rate constant for ion release in the MLCT state depends on the identity of the metal cation.

Time-Resolved Resonance Raman Study of the Triplet States of p-Hydroxyacetophenone and the p-Hydroxyphenacyl Diethyl Phosphate Phototrigger Compound

Pico- and nanosecond time-resolved resonance Raman (TR3) spectroscopy have been utilized to study the dynamics and structure of p-hydroxyacetophenone (HA) and the p-hydroxyphenacyl-caged phototrigger compound p-hydroxyphenacyl diethyl phosphate (HPDP) in acetonitrile solution. Transient intermediates were detected and attributed to the triplet states of HA and HPDP. Nanosecond-TR3 measurements were done for two isotopically substituted HA molecules to help better assign the triplet state carbonyl C=O stretching and the ring related vibrational modes. The dynamics of formation and the spectral characteristics for the triplet states were found to be similar for the HA and HPDP. The temporal evolution at very early picosecond time scale indicates there is rapid intersystem crossing (ISC) conversion and subsequent relaxation of the excess energy of the initially produced energetic triplet state. B3LYP/6-311G** density functional theory (DFT) calculations were done to determine the structures and vibrational frequencies for both the triplet and ground states of HA and HPDP. The calculated spectra reproduce the experimental spectra and the observed isotopic shifts reasonably well and were used to make tentative assignments to all the experimentally observed features. The triplet states were found to have extensive conjugated pipi* nature with a single-bond-like carbonyl CO bond. We briefly compare the triplet structure and formation dynamics of HA and HPDP as well as the conformational changes upon going from the ground state to the triplet state. We discuss our present results in relation to the initial pathway for the p-hydroxyphenacyl photodeprotection process. We also compare and discuss the properties of the HA pipi* triplet state relative to the published results of other aromatic carbonyl compounds.

Structure Determination of the Intramolecular Charge Transfer State in Crystalline 4-(Diisopropylamino)benzonitrile from Picosecond X-ray Diffraction

The molecular structure of photoexcited crystalline 4-(diisopropylamino)benzonitrile (DIABN) is determined by time-resolved X-ray diffraction with a time resolution of 70 ps. Spectroscopic results suggest that an ICT state with a lifetime of 3 ns is produced after photoexcitation. According to structural refinement of the X-ray data (powder diffraction), the torsional angle of the diisopropylamino group with respect to the plane of the phenyl ring of DIABN decreases from 14 degrees in the electronic ground state to 10 degrees in the equilibrated ICT state.

Photoinduced Intramolecular Charge Transfer in 4-(Dimethyl)aminobenzonitrile − A Theoretical Perspective

Recent advances in time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) have led to computational methods that can predict properties of photoexcited molecules with satisfactory accuracy at comparably moderate cost. We apply these methods to study the photophysics and photochemistry of 4-(dimethyl)aminobenzonitrile (DMABN). DMABN is considered the paradigm of photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), leading to dual fluorescence in polar solvents. By comparison of calculated emission energies, dipole moments, and vibrational frequencies with recent results from transient spectroscopy measurements, a definitive assignment of the electronic and geometric structure of the two lowest singlet excited states of DMABN is possible for the first time. We investigate the mechanism of the ICT reaction by means of minimum energy path calculations. The results confirm existing state-crossing models of dual fluorescence. Our study suggests that analytical TDDFT derivative methods will be useful to predict and classify emissive properties of other donor-acceptor systems as well.

Excited states of 4-dimethylaminopyridines: magnetic circular dichroism and computational studies

The ultraviolet transitions of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine and its derivatives: 3-methyl-4-(dimethylamino)pyridine and 3,5-dimethyl-4-(dimethylamino)pyridine were investigated by electronic absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy, and by quantum chemical calculations. The ortho-methylation in the pyridine ring creates a steric hindrance to coplanarity. The resulting changes in the strength of the dimethylamino substitutent are reflected in the MCD spectra. Near-UV experimental data indicate a presence of three low-energy transitions, assigned to 1Lb, 1La and 1(n,pi*) excited states. These results are corroborated by TD-DFT and INDO/S calculations.