Explicit core-hole localization and relaxation effects in the calculation of inner-shell spectrum of C2H4

Spectroscopic analysis of small organic molecules: A comprehensive near-edge x-ray-absorption fine-structure study of C6-ring-containing molecules

We report high-resolution C 1s near-edge x-ray-absorption fine-structure (NEXAFS) spectra of the C6-ring-containing molecules benzene (C6H6), 1,3- and 1,4-cyclohexadiene (C6H8), cyclohexene (C6H10), cyclohexane (C6H12), styrene (C8H8), and ethylbenzene (C8H10) which allow us to examine the gradual development of delocalization of the corresponding pi electron systems. Due to the high experimental resolution, vibrational progressions can be partly resolved in the spectra. The experimental spectra are compared with theoretical NEXAFS spectra obtained from density-functional theory calculations where electronic final-state relaxation is accounted for. The comparison yields very good agreement between theoretical spectra and experimental results. In all cases, the spectra can be described by excitations to pi*- and sigma*-type final-state orbitals with valence character, while final-state orbitals of Rydberg character make only minor contributions. The lowest C 1s-->1pi* excitation energy is found to agree in the (experimental and theoretical) spectra of all molecules except for 1,3-cyclohexadiene (C6H8) where an energy smaller by about 0.6 eV is obtained. The theoretical analysis can explain this result by different binding properties of this molecule compared to the others.

A survey of recent developments in ab initio valence bond theory

Starting from the 1980s and onwards, Valence Bond theory has been enjoying renaissance that is characterized by the development of a growing number of ab initio methods, and by many applications to chemical reactivity and to the central paradigms of chemistry. Owing the increase of computational power of modern computers and to significant advances in the methodology, valence bond theory begins to offer a sound and attractive alternative to Molecular Orbital theory. This review aims at summarizing the most important developments of ab initio valence bond methods during the last two or three decades, and is primarily devoted to a description of what the various methods can actually achieve within their specific scopes and limitations. Key available softwares are surveyed.