Mourad Roudjane

High resolution vacuum ultraviolet emission spectrum of D2 from 78to103nm: The DΠu1→XΣg+1 and D′Πu−1→XΣg+1 band systems

The emission spectrum of the D2 molecule has been studied at high resolution in the vacuum ultraviolet region 78.5–102.7nm. A detailed analysis of the two DΠu1→XΣg+1 and D′Πu−1→XΣg+1 electronic band systems is reported. New and improved values of the level energies of the two upper states have been derived with the help of the program IDEN [V. I. Azarov, Phys. Scr. 44, 528 (1991); 48, 656 (1993)], originally developed for atomic spectral analysis. A detailed comparison is made between the observed energy levels and solutions of coupled equations using the newest ab initio potentials by Wolniewicz and co-workers [J. Chem. Phys. 103, 1792 (1995); 99, 1851 (1993); J. Mol. Spectros. 212, 208 (2002); 220, 45 (2003)] taking into account the nonadiabatic coupling terms for the DΠu1 state with the lowest electronic states BΣu+1, CΠu1, and B′Σu+1. A satisfactory agreement has been found for most of the level energies belonging to the D and D′ states. The remaining differences between observation and theory are pro...

Lanthanum-Mediated C–H Bond Activation of Propyne and Identification of La(C3H2) Isomers

η(2)-Propadienylidenelanthanum [La(η(2)-CCCH2)] and deprotiolanthanacyclobutadiene [La(HCCCH)] of La(C3H2) are identified from the reaction mixture of neutral La atom activation of propyne in the gas phase. The two isomers are characterized with mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy combined with electronic structure calculations and spectral simulations. La(η(2)-CCCH2) and La(HCCCH) are formed by concerted 1,3- and 3,3-dehydrogenation, respectively. Both isomers prefer a doublet ground state with a La 6s-based unpaired electron, and La(η(2)-CCCH2) is slightly more stable than La(HCCCH). Ionization of the neutral doublet state of either isomer produces a singlet ion state by removing the La-based electron. The geometry change upon ionization results in the excitation of a symmetric metal-hydrocarbon stretching mode in the ionic state, whereas thermal excitation leads to the observation of the same stretching mode in the neutral state. Although the La atom is in a formal oxidation state of +2, the ionization energies of these metal-hydrocarbon radicals are lower than that of the neutral La atom. Deuteration has a very small effect on the ionization energies of the two isomers and the metal-hydrocarbon stretching mode of La(η(2)-CCCH2), but it reduces considerably the metal-ligand stretching frequencies of La(HCCCH).

Spectroscopic Characterization of Lanthanum-Mediated Dehydrogenation and C-C Bond Coupling of Ethylene.

La(C2H2) and La(C4H6) are observed from the reaction of laser-vaporized La atoms with ethylene molecules by photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and characterized by mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy. La(C2H2) is identified as a metallacyclopropene and La(C4H6) as a metallacyclopentene. The three-membered ring is formed by concerted H2 elimination and the five-membered cycle by dehydrogenation and C-C bond coupling. Both metallacycles prefer a doublet ground state with a La 6s-based unpaired electron. Ionization of the neutral doublet state of either complex produces a singlet ion state by removing the La-based electron. The ionization allows accurate measurements of the adiabatic ionization energy of the neutral doublet state and metal-ligand and ligand-based vibrational frequencies of the neutral and ionic states. Although the La atom is in a formal oxidation state of +2, the ionization energies of these metal-hydrocarbon cycles are lower than that of the neutral La atom. Deuteration has a small effect on the ionization energies of the two cyclic radicals but distinctive effects on their vibrational frequencies.

Electronic states and pseudo Jahn-Teller distortion of heavy metal-monobenzene complexes: M(C6H6) (M = Y, La, and Lu).

Monobenzene complexes of yttrium (Y), lanthanum (La), and lutetium (Lu), M(C(6)H(6)) (M = Y, La, and Lu), were prepared in a laser-vaporization supersonic molecular beam source and studied by pulsed-field ionization zero electron kinetic energy (ZEKE) spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. The calculations included the second-order perturbation, the coupled cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitation, and the complete active space self-consistent field methods. Adiabatic ionization energies and metal-benzene stretching frequencies of these complexes were measured for the first time from the ZEKE spectra. Electronic states of the neutral and ion complexes and benzene ring deformation were determined by combining the spectroscopic measurements with the theoretical calculations. The ionization energies of M(C(6)H(6)) are 5.0908 (6), 4.5651 (6), and 5.5106 (6) eV, and the metal-ligand stretching frequencies of [M(C(6)H(6))](+) are 328, 295, and 270 cm(-1) for M = Y, La, and Lu, respectively. The ground states of M(C(6)H(6)) and [M(C(6)H(6))](+) are (2)A(1) and (1)A(1), respectively, and their molecular structures are in C(2v) point group with a bent benzene ring. The deformation of the benzene ring upon metal coordination is caused by the pseudo Jahn-Teller interaction of (1(2)E(2)+1(2)A(1)+2(2)E(2)) e(2) at C(6v) symmetry. In addition, the study shows that spectroscopic behaviors of Y(C(6)H(6)) and La(C(6)H(6)) are similar to each other, but different from that of Lu(C(6)H(6)).

Electronic states and metal-ligand bonding of gadolinium complexes of benzene and cyclooctatetraene.

Gadolinium (Gd) complexes of benzene (C(6)H(6)) and (1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraene) (C(8)H(8)) were produced in a laser-vaporization supersonic molecular beam source and studied by single-photon pulsed-field ionization zero electron kinetic energy (ZEKE) spectroscopy. Adiabatic ionization energies and metal-ligand stretching frequencies were measured for the first time from the ZEKE spectra. Metal-ligand bonding and electronic states of the neutral and cationic complexes were analyzed by combining the spectroscopic measurements with ab initio calculations. The ground states of Gd(C(6)H(6)) and [Gd(C(6)H(6))](+) were determined as (11)A(2) and (10)A(2), respectively, with C(6v) molecular symmetry. The ground states of Gd(C(8)H(8)) and [Gd(C(8)H(8))](+) were identified as (9)A(2) and (8)A(2), respectively, with C(8v) molecular symmetry. Although the metal-ligand bonding in Gd(C(6)H(6)) is dominated by the covalent interaction, the bonding in Gd(C(8)H(8)) is largely electrostatic. The bonding in the benzene complex is much weaker than that in the cyclooctatetraene species. The strong bonding in Gd(C(8)H(8)) arises from two-electron transfer from Gd to C(8)H(8), which creates a strong charge-charge interaction and converts the tub-shaped ligand into a planar form. In both systems, Gd 4f orbitals are localized and play little role in the bonding, but they contribute to the high electron spin multiplicities.

High-resolution electron spectroscopy of lanthanide (Ce, Pr, and Nd) complexes of cyclooctatetraene: The role of 4f electrons

Cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium complexes of 1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraene (COT) complexes were produced in a laser-vaporization metal cluster source and studied by pulsed-field ionization zero electron kinetic energy spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. The computations included the second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory, the coupled cluster method with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations, and the state-average complete active space self-consistent field method. The spectrum of each complex exhibits multiple band systems and is assigned to ionization of several low-energy electronic states of the neutral complex. This observation is different from previous studies of M(COT) (M = Sc, Y, La, and Gd), for which a single band system was observed. The presence of the multiple low-energy electronic states is caused by the splitting of the partially filled lanthanide 4f orbitals in the ligand field, and the number of the low-energy states increases rapidly with increasing number of the metal 4f electrons. On the other hand, the 4f electrons have a small effect on the geometries and vibrational frequencies of these lanthanide complexes.

Binding sites and electronic states of group 3 metal-aniline complexes probed by high-resolution electron spectroscopy

Group 3 metal-aniline complexes, M(aniline) (M = Sc, Y, and La), are produced in a pulsed laser-vaporization molecular beam source, identified by photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and investigated by pulsed-field ionization zero electron kinetic energy (ZEKE) spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. Adiabatic ionization energies and several low-frequency vibrational modes are measured for the first time from the ZEKE spectra. Metal binding sites and electronic states are determined by combining the ZEKE measurements with the theoretical calculations. The ionization energies of the complexes decrease down the metal group. An out-of-plane ring deformation mode coupled with an asymmetric metal-carbon stretch is considerably anharmonic. Although aniline has various possible sites for metal coordination, the preferred site is the phenyl ring. The metal binding with the phenyl ring yields syn and anti conformers with the metal atom and amino hydrogens on the same and opposite sides of the ring, respectively. The anti conformer is determined to be the spectral carrier. The ground electronic state of the anti conformer of each neutral complex is a doublet with a metal-based electron configuration of nd(2)(n + 1)s(1), and the ground electronic state of each ion is a singlet with a metal-based electron configuration of nd(2). The formation of the neutral complexes requires the nd(2)(n + 1)s(1) ← nd(1)(n + 1)s(2) electron excitation in the metal atoms.

ROVIBRONIC ANALYSIS OF THE e′ BANDS IN THE Ã2 E′′ STATE OF NO3 RADICAL

The vibronic structure of the NO3 radical has been the subject of much recent research in our group.a We have also collected several high resolution spectra of transitions to the Ã2E′′ state. Parallel bands, with a′′ 1 symmetry, have been satisfactorily fit using an oblate symmetric top Hamiltonian with spin rotation. Some lines were seen to be perturbed and it is likely that this is the result of random perturbations from levels originating from the ground electronic state. The perpendicular bands, which have e′ symmetry, are not satisfactorily described using this Hamiltonian. In particular the rotational structure of the e′ levels has many more transitions than in the oblate top model predicts. For this reason we have developed two different rovibronic Hamiltonians for the analysis of the vibronically degenerate levels. Both include spin-orbit, coriolis, spin-rotation, and Jahn-Teller distortion terms. However, they are derived starting from two different limiting cases. In Case 1 the Hamiltonian is built by assuming first a D3h configuration and then perturbations are added. Case 2 starts at the statically distorted, low symmetry geometry and introduces interactions among the vibronic levels. In the case of Jahn-Teller coupling that is neither very weak nor very strong these models should both adequately describe the observed spectra. These models and preliminary analysis of several e′ bands are presented.