Viktoras Dryza

Electronic Spectra of Gas-Phase Polycyclic Aromatic Nitrogen Heterocycle Cations: Isoquinoline(+) and Quinoline(+)

Electronic spectra of the gas-phase isoquinoline(+)-Ar and quinoline(+)-Ar complexes are recorded using photodissociation spectroscopy by monitoring the Ar loss channel. The D(3)←D(0) and D(4)←D(0) band origins for isoquinoline(+)-Ar are observed at 15245 ± 15 cm(-1) and 21960 ± 15 cm(-1), respectively, whereas for quinoline(+)-Ar they appear at 16050 ± 15 cm(-1) and 21955 ± 15 cm(-1), respectively. Strong vibronic progressions for the D(3)←D(0) band systems of both isoquinoline(+)-Ar and quinoline(+)-Ar are modeled and assigned in terms of ring deformation and carbon-carbon stretch vibrational modes using time-dependent density functional theory calculations in conjunction with Franck-Condon simulations. The properties of the isoquinoline(+) and quinoline(+) molecules are compared with those of the isoelectronic naphthalene(+) molecule. The existence of strong progressions in the visible spectra of isoquinoline(+)-Ar and quinoline(+)-Ar suggests that the corresponding isoquinoline(+) and quinoline(+) molecular cations are unlikely to be responsible for diffuse interstellar bands.

Attachment of molecular hydrogen to an isolated boron cation: An infrared and ab initio study

Structural properties of the B(+)-H2 electrostatic complex are investigated through its rotationally resolved infrared spectrum in the H-H stretch region (3905-3975 cm(-1)). The spectrum, which was obtained by monitoring B(+) photofragments while the IR wavelength was scanned, is consistent with the complex having a T-shaped structure and a vibrationally averaged intermolecular separation of 2.26 A, which decreases by 0.04 A when the H2 subunit is vibrationally excited. The H-H stretch transition of B(+)-H2 is red-shifted by 220.6 +/- 1.5 cm(-1) from that of the free H2 molecule, much more than for other dihydrogen complexes with comparable binding energies. Properties of B(+)-H2 and the related Li(+)-H2, Na(+)-H2, and Al(+)-H2 complexes are explored through ab initio calculations at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level. The unusually large red-shift for B(+)-H2 is explained as due to electron donation from the H2 sigma(g) bonding orbital to the unoccupied 2p(z) orbital on the B(+) ion.

Spectroscopic study of the benchmark Mn+-H2 complex.

We have recorded the rotationally resolved infrared spectrum of the weakly bound Mn+-H2 complex in the H-H stretch region (4022-4078 cm(-1)) by monitoring Mn+ photodissociation products. The band center of Mn+-H2, the H-H stretch transition, is shifted by -111.8 cm(-1) from the transition of the free H2 molecule. The spectroscopic data suggest that the Mn+-H2 complex consists of a slightly perturbed H2 molecule attached to the Mn+ ion in a T-shaped configuration with a vibrationally averaged intermolecular separation of 2.73 A. Together with the measured Mn+...H2 binding energy of 7.9 kJ/mol (Weis, P.; et al. J. Phys. Chem. A 1997, 101, 2809.), the spectroscopic parameters establish Mn+-H2 as the most thoroughly characterized transition-metal cation-dihydrogen complex and a benchmark for calibrating quantum chemical calculations on noncovalent systems involving open d-shell configurations. Such systems are of possible importance for hydrogen storage applications.

Electronic absorptions of the benzylium cation

The electronic transitions of the benzylium cation (Bz(+)) are investigated over the 250-550 nm range by monitoring the photodissociation of mass-selected C(7)H(7)(+)-Ar(n) (n = 1, 2) complexes in a tandem mass spectrometer. The Bz(+)-Ar spectrum displays two distinct band systems, the S(1)←S(0) band system extending from 370 to 530 nm with an origin at 19,067 ± 15 cm(-1), and a much stronger S(3)←S(0) band system extending from 270 to 320 nm with an origin at 32,035 ± 15 cm(-1). Whereas the S(1)←S(0) absorption exhibits well resolved vibrational progressions, the S(3)←S(0) absorption is broad and relatively structureless. Vibronic structure of the S(1)←S(0) system, which is interpreted with the aid of time-dependent density functional theory and Franck-Condon simulations, reflects the activity of four totally symmetric ring deformation modes (ν(5), ν(6), ν(9), ν(13)). We find no evidence for the ultraviolet absorption of the tropylium cation, which according to the neon matrix spectrum should occur over the 260 - 275 nm range [A. Nagy, J. Fulara, I. Garkusha, and J. Maier, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 50, 3022 (2011)].

Attaching molecular hydrogen to metal cations: perspectives from gas-phase infrared spectroscopy

In this perspective article we describe recent infrared spectroscopic investigations of mass-selected M(+)-H(2) and M(+)-D(2) complexes in the gas-phase, with targets that include Li(+)-H(2), B(+)-H(2), Na(+)-H(2), Mg(+)-H(2), Al(+)-H(2), Cr(+)-D(2), Mn(+)-H(2), Zn(+)-D(2) and Ag(+)-H(2). Interactions between molecular hydrogen and metal cations play a key role in several contexts, including in the storage of molecular hydrogen in zeolites, metal-organic frameworks, and doped carbon nanostructures. Arguably, the clearest view of the interaction between dihydrogen and a metal cation can be obtained by probing M(+)-H(2) complexes in the gas phase, free from the complicating influences of solvents or substrates. Infrared spectra of the complexes in the H-H and D-D stretch regions are obtained by monitoring M(+) photofragments as the excitation wavelength is scanned. The spectra, which feature full rotational resolution, confirm that the M(+)-H(2) complexes share a common T-shaped equilibrium structure, consisting essentially of a perturbed H(2) molecule attached to the metal cation, but that the structural and vibrational parameters vary over a considerable range, depending on the size and electronic structure of the metal cation. Correlations are established between intermolecular bond lengths, dissociation energies, and frequency shifts of the H-H stretch vibrational mode. Ultimately, the M(+)-H(2) and M(+)-D(2) infrared spectra provide a comprehensive set of benchmarks for modelling and understanding the M(+)···H(2) interaction.

Infrared spectra of mass-selected Mg+-H2 and Mg +-D2 complexes

Rotationally resolved infrared spectra of Mg(+)-H(2) and Mg(+)-D(2) are recorded in the H-H (4025-4080 cm(-1)) and D-D (2895-2945 cm(-1)) stretch regions by monitoring Mg(+) photofragments. The nu(HH) and nu(DD) transitions of Mg(+)-H(2) and Mg(+)-D(2) are red-shifted by 106.2 +/- 1.5 and 76.0 +/- 0.1 cm(-1) respectively from the fundamental vibrational transitions of the free H(2) and D(2) molecules. The spectra are consistent with a T-shaped equilibrium structure in which the Mg(+) ion interacts with a slightly perturbed H(2) or D(2) molecule. From the spectroscopic constants, a vibrationally averaged intermolecular separation of 2.716 A (2.687 A) is deduced for the ground state of Mg(+)-H(2) (Mg(+)-D(2)), decreasing by 0.037 A (0.026 A) when the H(2) (D(2)) subunit is vibrationally excited.

Potential energy surface and rovibrational calculations for the Mg +–H2 and Mg +–D2 complexes

A three-dimensional potential energy surface is developed to describe the structure and dynamical behavior of the Mg(+)-H(2) and Mg(+)-D(2) complexes. Ab initio points calculated using the RCCSD(T) method and aug-cc-pVQZ basis set (augmented by bond functions) are fitted using a reproducing kernel Hilbert space method [Ho and Rabitz, J. Chem. Phys. 104, 2584 (1996)] to generate an analytical representation of the potential energy surface. The calculations confirm that Mg(+)-H(2) and Mg(+)-D(2) essentially consist of a Mg(+) atomic cation attached, respectively, to a moderately perturbed H(2) or D(2) molecule in a T-shaped configuration with an intermolecular separation of 2.62 Å and a well depth of D(e) = 842  cm(-1). The barrier for internal rotation through the linear configuration is 689  cm(-1). Interaction with the Mg(+) ion is predicted to increase the H(2) molecules bond-length by 0.008 Å. Variational rovibrational energy level calculations using the new potential energy surface predict a dissociation energy of 614  cm(-1) for Mg(+)-H(2) and 716  cm(-1) for Mg(+)-D(2). The H-H and D-D stretch band centers are predicted to occur at 4059.4 and 2929.2  cm(-1), respectively, overestimating measured values by 3.9 and 2.6  cm(-1). For Mg(+)-H(2) and Mg(+)-D(2), the experimental B and C rotational constants exceed the calculated values by ∼1.3%, suggesting that the calculated potential energy surface slightly overestimates the intermolecular separation. An ab initio dipole moment function is used to simulate the infrared spectra of both complexes.

Structure and properties of the Zn+-D2 complex

The infrared spectrum of the (66)Zn(+)-D(2) complex is measured in the D-D stretch region (2815-2866 cm(-1)) by detecting Zn(+) photofragments. The spectrum is consistent with the Zn(+)-D(2) complex consisting of a slightly distorted D(2) molecule attached to a ground state Zn(+) ion in a T-shaped equilibrium configuration. From the rotational constants, the vibrationally averaged intermolecular bond length is deduced to be 2.32 A, contracting by 0.02 A upon excitation of the D-D stretch vibrational mode. The band center of the D-D stretch transition is shifted by -154.8 cm(-1) from the Q(0) (1) transition of the free D(2) molecule. Density functional theory calculations are performed to elucidate the molecular bonding in the complex. The current spectroscopic and calculated data for Zn(+)-D(2), together with the previously determined binding energy for Zn(+)-H(2) [1310 cm(-1); P. Weis, et al., J. Phys. Chem. A 101, 2809 (1997)], result in a comprehensive characterization of the Zn(+)-D(2) and Zn(+)-H(2) complexes.

Gas-phase electronic spectrum of the indole radical cation

The visible and near-UV electronic spectrum of the indole radical cation is measured in the gas phase by photodissociation of indole+–Ar and indole+–He complexes in a tandem mass spectrometer. A series of resolved vibronic transitions extending from 610 to 460 nm are assigned to the D2 ← D0 band system, while weak transitions between 390 and 360 nm are assigned to the D3 ← D0 system, and a stronger, broad, unresolved absorption between 350 and 300 nm is attributed to the D4 ← D0 system. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations are used to assign vibronic structure of the D2 ← D0 band system, and show that the main active vibrational modes correspond to in-plane ring deformations. The strongest D2 ← D0 vibronic transitions of indole+–He do not correspond with any catalogued diffuse interstellar bands, even considering band displacements of up to 50 cm−1possibly caused by the attached He atom.

Gas-phase electronic spectroscopy of the indene cation (C9H8(+)).

The electronic spectrum of the indene radical cation has been investigated through resonance-enhanced photodissociation of the weakly bound C9H8(+)-He and C9H8(+)-Arn (n = 1, 2) complexes in a tandem mass spectrometer. The D2 ← D0 band origin for indene(+)-He is observed at 17,379 ± 15 cm(-1), while the D2 ← D0 and D4 ← D0 band origins for indene(+)-Ar appear at 17,353 ± 15 cm(-1) and 28,254 ± 15 cm(-1), respectively. The vibronic structure of the D2 ← D0 band system is assigned by comparison with a simulated spectrum based on time-dependent density functional theory calculations, and is due mainly to progressions in ring deformation vibrational modes. Possible correspondences between the stronger visible transitions of the indene cation and diffuse interstellar bands observed towards the heavily reddened star HD 204827 are discussed.