title: Using internal coordinates to describe photoinduced geometry changes in MLCT excited states.
abstract: A resonance Raman intensity analysis of the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transition for the rhenium compound Re(2-(2'-pyridyl)quinoxaline)(CO)(3)Cl (RePQX) is presented. Photoinduced geometry changes are calculated, and the results are presented using the vibrational normal modes and the redundant internal coordinates. A density functional theory calculation is used to determine the ground-state nonresonant Raman spectrum and a transformation matrix that transforms the redundant internal coordinates into the normal modes. The normal modes nu(37) (rhenium coordination sphere distortion) and nu(75) (ligand skeletal stretch) show the largest photoinduced geometry change (Delta = 1.0 and 0.7, respectively). A single carbonyl mode is enhanced in the resonance Raman spectra. Time-dependent density functional theory is used to calculate excited-state geometry changes, which are subsequently used to determine the signs of the photoinduced normal mode displacements. Transforming to internal coordinates reveals that all the CO bond lengths are displaced in the excited state. The Re-C and C-C ligand bond lengths are also displaced in the excited state. The results are discussed in terms of a simple one-electron picture for the electronic transition. Many bond angles and torsional coordinates are also displaced by the metal-to-ligand charge transfer, and most of these are associated with the rhenium coordination sphere. It is demonstrated that using internal coordinates presents a clear picture of the geometry changes associated with photoinduced electron transfer in metal polypyridyl systems.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North, New Zealand. M.Waterland@massey.ac.nz
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Waterland
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Keith C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Gordon