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Title: Nonadiabatic Dynamics of Photoexcited cis-Stilbene Using Ab Initio Multiple Spawning

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry. B, Condensed Matter, Materials, Surfaces, Interfaces and Biophysical Chemistry

The photochemistry of cis-stilbene proceeds through two pathways: cis-trans isomerization and ring closure to 4a,4b-dihydrophenanthrene (DHP). Despite serving for many decades as a model system for photoisomerization, the photodynamics of cis-stilbene is still not fully understood. In this work, we use ab initio multiple spawning on a SA-2-CASSCF(2,2) potential energy surface to simulate the nonadiabatic dynamics of isolated cis-stilbene. We find the cyclization (to DHP and cis-stilbene) and isomerization (to trans- and cis-stilbene) reaction coordinates to be orthogonal; branching between the two pathways is determined on the S1 excited state within 150 fs of photoexcitation. Furthermore ,trajectory basis functions (TBFs) undergoing cyclization decay rapidly to the ground state in 250 fs, while TBFs moving along the isomerization coordinate remain on the excited state longer, with the majority decaying between 300 and 500 fs. We observe three avoided crossing regions in the dynamics: two along the isomerization coordinate (displaying pyramidalization and migration of an ethylenic hydrogen or phenyl group), and one DHP-like conical intersection along the cyclization coordinate. The isomeric form of the vibrationally hot photoproducts (as determined by measurement 2 ps after photoexcitation) is determined within less than 50 fs of decay to the ground state mediated by passage through a conical intersection. Excess vibrational energy of ground state cis- and trans-stilbene is channelled into phenyl torsions (with mostly opposing directionality). Finally, our simulations are validated by direct comparison to experiment for the absorption spectrum, branching ratio of the three photoproducts (44:52:4 cis-stilbene:trans-stilbene:DHP), and excited state lifetime (520 ± 40 fs).

Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515
OSTI ID:
1646879
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry. B, Condensed Matter, Materials, Surfaces, Interfaces and Biophysical Chemistry, Vol. 124, Issue 26; ISSN 1520-6106
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 20 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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