The Negative Ion Photoelectron Spectrum of meta -Benzoquinone Radical Anion (MBQ •– ): A Joint Experimental and Computational Study
Negative ion photoelectron (NIPE) spectra of the radical anion of meta-benzoquinone (MBQ, m-OC6H4O) have been obtained at 20 K, using both 355 and 266 nm lasers for electron photodetachment. The spectra show well-resolved peaks and complex spectral patterns. The electron affinity of MBQ is determined from the first resolved peak to be 2.875 ±17 0.010 eV. Single-point, CASPT2/aug-cc-pVTZ//CASPT2/ aug-cc-pVDZ calculations predict accurately the positions of the 0-0 bands in the NIPE spectrum for formation of the four lowest electronic states of neutral MBQ from the 2A2 state of MBQ•-. In addition, the Franck-Condon factors that are computed from the CASPT2/aug-cc-pVDZ optimized geometries,vibrational frequencies, and normal mode vectors, successfully simulate the intensities and frequencies of the vibrational peaks in the NIPE spectrum that are associated with each of these electronic states. The successful simulation of the NIPE spectrum of MBQ•- allows the assignment of 3B2 as the ground state of MBQ, followed by the 1B2 and 1A1 electronic states, respectively 9.0 ± 0.2 and 16.6 ± 0.2 kcal/mol higher in energy than the triplet. These experimental energy differences are in good agreement with the calculated values of 9.7 and 15.7 kcal/mol. The relative energies of these two singlet states in MBQ confirm the previous prediction that their relative energies would be reversed from those in meta-benzoquinodimethane (MBQDM, m-CH2C6H4CH2).
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 1129288
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-100293; 44678; KC0301020
- Journal Information:
- Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 136, Issue 9; ISSN 0002-7863
- Publisher:
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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