Final resolution of the step-wise versus concerted mechanism controversy for excited-state double proton transfer in the 7-azaindole dimer in the gas phase
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Six stable dimer models for 7-azaindole (including the classic C 2h doubly hydrogen-bonded, coplanar, centrosymmetric dimer) are considered to be observable in adiabatic nozzle jet molecular beams. They are analyzed by hybrid density functional theory (DFT), the MP2 ab initio method for the ground electronic state, and the single-excitation configuration interaction (CIS) (over frozen ground state optimized geometries obtained from DFT) excited state calculations, for global potential minima and proton-transfer potential energy curves. Three simultaneity principles are stated: ( i ) intermolecular coherent excitation molecular exciton simultaneity, ( ii ) intramolecular acid–base change simultaneity at the pyrrolo-N-H and aza-N proton-donor, proton-acceptor sites, and ( iii ) intermolecular simultaneity of catalytic proton-donor, proton-acceptor action. It is suggested that the formation of the classic C 2h dimer of 7-azaindole, which is considered exclusively by previous researchers, can be formed from at least one of the several card-pack hydrogen-bonded dimers in a secondary slower step approaching a microsecond scale, instead of the picosecond events at the supersonic nozzle. It is proposed that the complexity of dimerization modes is the basis of the postexcitation, postionization diverse kinetic isotope results.
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Excited-state double-proton transfer (ESDPT) in the coplanar 7-azaindole dimer (7AI2) has been studied as a model base pair. Concerted and stepwise mechanisms were proposed for ESDPT in 7AI2. In the concerted mechanism, two protons transfer concertedly on the excited-state potential energy surfaces where a local minimum does not exist. On the other hand, an intermediate state exists in the stepwise mechanism. Therefore, after one single-proton transfer, the second single-proton transfers via the intermediate state. Numerous spectroscopic and theoretical studies were conducted to determine the mechanism of ESDPT of 7AI2. This review focuses on the ESDPT mechanisms in the gas phase. A prologue and epilogue of the concerted and stepwise mechanism controversy are presented. Spectroscopic experiments in the condensed phase and theoretical calculations related to the potential energy surfaces are important for deriving a final conclusion. In addition, some significant results are comparatively discussed.
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Prologue
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A mechanism is proposed for the formation in gas phase, during a short time, of the delicately symmetrical coplanar C 2h classic 7-azaindole (7AI) doubly hydrogen-bonded dimer. Of the five card-pack or otherwise random geometry structures most likely to be formed in the supersonic jet expansion molecular beam, none would be an obvious precursor to the C 2h dimer. One unstable dimer with dipole–dipole, van der Waals, and plane-to-plane hydrogen bonding is shown to be capable of unhinging about the hydrogen-bond pair as an axis, from 0° to 90° to 180°, yielding a deep minimum for the C 2h structure with its delicate geometry and symmetry. This relaxation mechanism is feasible in the 3-μs interval between the nozzle escape and the first laser pulse interception of the molecular beam. In the second part of the paper four published mechanisms are compared for concerted vs. two-step biprotonic phototransfer for the 7AI dimers. The dependence of the latter two models on H-atom instead of proton-transfer as an intermediate step negates the mechanism in a singlet (π,π*) electronic state by the valency repulsion, in the 3-electron orbital that would be generated. The concerted mechanism for biprotonic phototransfer is reaffirmed by the analysis of the quantum mechanical conditions set on the biprotonic transfer in the photo-excited molecular 7AI pair.
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