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Title: The benzene radical anion: A computationally demanding prototype for aromatic anions

Abstract

The benzene radical anion is studied with ab initio coupled-cluster theory in large basis sets. Unlike the usual assumption, we find that, at the level of theory investigated, the minimum energy geometry is non-planar with tetrahedral distortion at two opposite carbon atoms. The anion is well known for its instability to auto-ionization which poses computational challenges to determine its properties. Despite the importance of the benzene radical anion, the considerable attention it has received in the literature so far has failed to address the details of its structure and shape-resonance character at a high level of theory. Here, we examine the dynamic Jahn-Teller effect and its impact on the anion potential energy surface. We find that a minimum energy geometry of C{sub 2} symmetry is located below one D{sub 2h} stationary point on a C{sub 2h} pseudo-rotation surface. The applicability of standard wave function methods to an unbound anion is assessed with the stabilization method. The isotropic hyperfine splitting constants (A{sub iso}) are computed and compared to data obtained from experimental electron spin resonance experiments. Satisfactory agreement with experiment is obtained with coupled-cluster theory and large basis sets such as cc-pCVQZ.

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Quantum Theory Project, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (United States)
  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22415869
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Chemical Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 142; Journal Issue: 20; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0021-9606
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; ANIONS; ATOMS; BENZENE; CARBON; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE; INSTABILITY; JAHN-TELLER EFFECT; POTENTIAL ENERGY; RADICALS; ROTATION; STABILIZATION; SURFACES; WAVE FUNCTIONS

Citation Formats

Bazante, Alexandre P., E-mail: abazante@chem.ufl.edu, Bartlett, Rodney J., and Davidson, E. R. The benzene radical anion: A computationally demanding prototype for aromatic anions. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4921261.
Bazante, Alexandre P., E-mail: abazante@chem.ufl.edu, Bartlett, Rodney J., & Davidson, E. R. The benzene radical anion: A computationally demanding prototype for aromatic anions. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4921261
Bazante, Alexandre P., E-mail: abazante@chem.ufl.edu, Bartlett, Rodney J., and Davidson, E. R. 2015. "The benzene radical anion: A computationally demanding prototype for aromatic anions". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4921261.
@article{osti_22415869,
title = {The benzene radical anion: A computationally demanding prototype for aromatic anions},
author = {Bazante, Alexandre P., E-mail: abazante@chem.ufl.edu and Bartlett, Rodney J. and Davidson, E. R.},
abstractNote = {The benzene radical anion is studied with ab initio coupled-cluster theory in large basis sets. Unlike the usual assumption, we find that, at the level of theory investigated, the minimum energy geometry is non-planar with tetrahedral distortion at two opposite carbon atoms. The anion is well known for its instability to auto-ionization which poses computational challenges to determine its properties. Despite the importance of the benzene radical anion, the considerable attention it has received in the literature so far has failed to address the details of its structure and shape-resonance character at a high level of theory. Here, we examine the dynamic Jahn-Teller effect and its impact on the anion potential energy surface. We find that a minimum energy geometry of C{sub 2} symmetry is located below one D{sub 2h} stationary point on a C{sub 2h} pseudo-rotation surface. The applicability of standard wave function methods to an unbound anion is assessed with the stabilization method. The isotropic hyperfine splitting constants (A{sub iso}) are computed and compared to data obtained from experimental electron spin resonance experiments. Satisfactory agreement with experiment is obtained with coupled-cluster theory and large basis sets such as cc-pCVQZ.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4921261},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22415869}, journal = {Journal of Chemical Physics},
issn = {0021-9606},
number = 20,
volume = 142,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu May 28 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Thu May 28 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}